Sir Ian Botham set to swing into Fordhouses

The country's greatest all-rounder has agreed to cut the ribbon on Wednesday, May 15, as the Birmingham League club officially take the wraps off the £400,000 Wobaston Road project.

Fordhouses have secured Botham's appearance through his friendship with club president Kevin Threlfall – and the cricketing icon, turned Sky pundit, has even agreed to waive any fee.

Capped 102 times, Botham is England's all-time leading Test wicket taker with 383 victims while he also scored 5,200 runs. Off the field he has raised more than £12m for Leukaemia Research through a series of famous walks and was knighted in 2007.

"I have known Ian for 10 years at it is typical of the man that he had no hesitation in agreeing to perform the official opening duties," said Threlfall. "There is no fee, he is doing this as a favour. To have one of the game's true greats and one of England's most famous sporting figures coming to the ground is great for our club and great for Wolverhampton. There are various activities planned."

The official opening will end the club's protracted 22-year battle to find a new home.

Fordhouses used to play at Taunton Avenue but when landlords Bradburn & Wedge went into administration in 1991 the club had to start the search for a new ground while receivers BDO Stoy Hayward found a buyer for the land. The club played on at Taunton Avenue until their lease expired on 2005, moving to the Dowty Boulton Paul Sports and Social Club in 2006. After securing £100,000 from the sale of the ground and a £300,000 payment from the developers to fund the project, work began on transforming their new base.

The club now boast a revamped two-storey clubhouse with new changing rooms, function rooms and viewing gallery while outdoors there are two cricket pitches, a new net facility and a bowls green.