Ambitious Spalding Town Cricket Club have secured a spree of impressive signings ahead of their return to the Lincs ECB Premier Division next season.
The South Lincs and Border League champions have snapped up star batsman Warren Nel, Zimbabwean under-19 international Campbell Light, talented Moulton Harrox duo Jack Barnett and Max Cusack and also all-rounder Ian Smith.
South African Nel has been one of the most prolific run scorers in the county’s top league for years, while all-rounder Light has just featured for his country in the under-19 World Cup in Australia.
Explosive Moulton batsmen Barnett and young spin king Cusack were both lured across the South Holland divide by the chance to shine at a higher level, while Smith returns to the game after a short break with a wealth of top flight experience.
Excited first team skipper Rob Ambrose said: “It’s been a bit hectic since the end of last season, we have had to do an awful lot of work to be in the position to sign Warren and Campbell – so to achieve that is credit to the committee.
“No disrespect to the lads who won us the league last year, but we knew that we needed to strengthen to give us any chance of survival.
“Jack Barnett is technically one of the best batsmen in the South Lincs and Border League I think he has the potential to score a lot of runs in the Premier League in future years given the chance. Warren is going to coach our winter net sessions from January and Campbell will help coach the junior section when he arrives in April.
“With the coaching methods and experience that the pair will bring it’s really going to benefit the whole club.
“I still believe that it’s going to be difficult for us to stay in the league, but with the work that’s going on we have given ourselves a chance.”
Proud chairman Heath Ripley added: “I am absolutely delighted at the development of the club over the last few years.
“We could have only dreamed of playing in the ECB Premier League for the 2013 season. This is solely down to the dedication and hard work of the new committee and captain Rob Ambrose.
“The entire club has been strengthened, from the club marked junior section to our seniors. We go into 2013 with an optimism that we will see success throughout the club.”
Town are holding a Christmas social evening tomorrow night (7.30pm).
Visit www.spaldingtowncricketclub.com for more information on that and the club’s race night on January 25.