Somerset CCC's Lord's finals - including Viv Richards, Joel Garner and Marcus Trescothick

It is their first visit to the home of cricket since 2011, a CB40 final defeat against Surrey, and it will be their 12th Lord's final in all.

There has been glory, drama and heartbreak along the way - here is a look back at how Somerset have fared over the years...

1967

"It will be a bright and early start for thousands of Somerset cricket fans tomorrow," read the front page of the County Gazette from September 1, 1967 - alongside a rather bold headline: "This is the cup they will bring home!"

Unfortunately, Somerset's first Lord's final did not go quite to plan as they went down by 32 runs against Kent.

"We were beaten by the better side," was Bill Alley's verdict, while Fred Rumsey declared: "We are due to bring the cup back next year."

Kent captain Colin Cowdrey, meanwhile, wrote to the County Gazette to praise the "huge contingent of Somerset folk at Lord's."

"This was cricket as it should be," he concluded.

1978

Despite Rumsey's confidence, it took another 11 years for Somerset to return to Lord's.

'Lord's - here we come' ran the County Gazette's headline as Somerset set off for "what could be its greatest weekend", with the Gillette Cup and John Player League trophies up for grabs.

Neither were safely returned to Taunton by the following week, however, as Somerset lost the Gillette Cup final by five wickets against Sussex and then lost by just two runs at Taunton the following day to cap a miserable weekend.

The image of Viv Richards' broken bat, smashed on the dressing room floor, adorned the front page of the following week's Gazette and rather summed up the mood.

1979

Remarkably, Somerset returned to Lord's the following year with exactly the same 'double' up for grabs - and this time they did it.

Somerset beat Northamptonshire to win the Gillette Cup, their first ever trophy, much to the delight of these fans...

The following day, Somerset won at Trent Bridge to wrap up the John Player League to banish those memories from the year before.

'The Glory Years'

The 1979 triumph was the start of Somerset's most successful ever period and they were regular visitors to Lord's in the years that followed.

Somerset won the Benson & Hedges Cup in successive years in 1981 and 1982 with legends Viv Richards and Joel Garner to the fore.

'Viv crowns golden day at Lord's' was the County Gazette's reaction to the '81 final, which saw Richards score a masterful 132 not out to lead Somerset home against Surrey after Garner had earlier taken 5-14.

The following year, Somerset cruised home by nine wickets against Notts, Richards again unbeaten - this time on 51 - as the Gazette lead with 'It's a carve up by Somerset'.

To cap a wonderful period, Somerset then won the Natwest Trophy (formerly the Gillette Cup) in 1983, beating Kent by 24 runs with Richards (51) again top scoring.

1999

HAVING become accustomed to success, Somerset's supporters then had to wait 16 years to return to the home of cricket.

It was a Westcountry invasion of the capital as the final pitted Somerset against old foes Gloucestershire, who earned the bragging rights with a 50-run victory despite Paul Jarvis' 5-55, with captain Jamie Cox insisting "I would have bowled first again" after some criticism of his decision at the toss.

The Gazette produced a souvenir edition and dished out 2,500 copies at Lord's - but the fans came home disappointed.

2001

IT was a happier homecoming just two years later as Somerset ran out 41-run victors over Leicestershire to lift the C&G Trophy - still their most recent win at Lord's.

Local lad Keith Parsons was the hero with the bat, striking an unbeaten 60 from 52 balls, leading the Gazette to declare: "Only one word for it - fantastic!"

Wicketkeeper Rob Turner, meanwhile, was backed by plenty of friends and family who had made the trip from Weston-super-Mare.

2002

"Same again lads!" ran the headline on the County Gazette's preview supplement as Somerset returned to Lord's a year on from their triumph - but it wasn't to be.

Despite posting a competitive 256-8, including 67 for Peter Bowler, a superb unbeaten 128 by Australian Matthew Elliott saw Yorkshire home with two overs to spare.

'Bridesmaids' era

SOMERSET have been back to Lord's twice since 2002, reaching the CB40 final in both 2010 and 2011.

The 2010 season was particularly heartbreaking as Somerset saw the elusive County Championship title slip from their grasp on the final day of the season before losing to an Ian Bell-inspired Warwickshire at Lord's.

The following year saw Surrey run out victors and led captain Marcus Trescothick to declare: "I'm out of answers."

"We need more winners like Jos" ran the Gazette's post-mortem back page in 2011 as head coach Andy Hurry reacted to the latest final disappointment to go alongside T20 finals day heartache in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Though the letters page was full of supporters praising the side's efforts in getting so far and insisting a trophy was round the corner, Somerset supporters are still waiting.

Will next Saturday see an end to the trophy-less run?

You can get in the mood with our souvenir Lord's final supplement - see this Thursday's County Gazette.