ONCE heard, Kent’s newly-released single, This Is Our Time, sticks in the mind, so much so that you find yourself absent-mindedly humming the tune.

While chances are it won’t be a smash hit, credit to New Zealand-born singer song-writer Ryan Edwards for carrying it off.

The recording, the first made by a county club, also features the vocal talents of Kent players David Fulton, Martin Saggers, Niall O’Brien, Simon Cusden, Matt Dennington and Neil Dexter and Kent Academy Scholar Michael Barber.

Edwards said: "I was helping Kent and Jon Fordham with their radio advertising and he dropped the hint about a club anthem to get some unity and help with revenue.

"I tinkered around with the tune at home first and then wrote the words, which was a real privilege, and I’d like to think they are quite evocative lyrics.

“We got the boys together for auditions. Some said 'sorry this isn’t for me', others, well they just sang like dogs!

"It made it for me that the guys agreed to sing on it with me and I think they do it beautifully.

"We recorded it at the ground and took it back to the studio prepared to do a whole lot of work, but all we had to do was massage it for toning and fix the bits we’d done.”

Edwards is not holding his breath for an appearance on Top Of The Pops, but sees no reason why the CD cannot break even commercially and become a favourite with Spitfires’ fans.

He added: "It’s very anthemic, and easy to sing whether it be in the shower, dressing room or in the car. One of great things for me would be if the Canterbury crowd adopted as their song."

The CD includes two versions of the song and is available from the club shop The Eleventh Wicket for £3.50 or from the club website www.kentccc.com for £4, including post and packaging.

Kent’s commercial director Jon Fordham said: "We were keen to ensure our song was not one of the cheesy variety often associated with football clubs.

"We believe This is Our Time sets a new standard for club anthems and we have already been approached by a number of high street stores offering to sell the CD."

Cricketers' chorus:

"With pride in our hearts, we play it together

And we live for the crack of willow on leather.

We’re the Spitfires, and this is our time.'