Dan Clayton has taken over as captain of Winchcombe Cricket Club ahead of the 2023 campaign and he goes into the new season with the club in very good spirits because they are already celebrating a title.

That’s because Ben Meikle recently led the club’s indoor six-a-side team to Cheltenham League Division One success, which means that next winter they will be playing in the Premier Division for the first team.

Clayton, an all-rounder, will share captaincy duties this summer with Callum Hillyard, another of the club’s younger players.

As it happens, Hillyard has been ruled out for the 2023 season through injury so their roles will be clearly defined, with Clayton being in charge of on-field affairs and Hillyard responsible for off-the-field matters.

“It’s a bit of a fresh start,” said committee member Will Major, a wicketkeeper who plays for both the 1sts and 2nds.

“We’ve got a new chairman as well in Adam Drysdale and what we all want is an uninterrupted season with no rain.”

Winchcombe’s 1st XI play in Division One of the Cotswold Hills League while their 2nd XI, who will be captained by Callum Wardlaw, play in Division Five.

Like all clubs they are on the lookout for new players and Major believes that the club have plenty to offer.

Anyone who has been to their ground in Corndean Lane knows that the club play in an idyllic setting and Major said: “We play in beautiful surroundings, I always say that it’s the best beer garden in the Cotswolds!

“We play with good people and the social is fantastic.”

Major is also a big fan of the club’s teas, adding: “They are a serious spread, we pride ourselves on our teas.”

They also play a good standard of cricket, with Major saying the 1st XI is “a good blend of youth and experience”.

Much of that experience is provided by opening batsman Eddie Huggett, a former captain, who has been playing for the club since the 1990s.

The club have been going for a very long time – they were founded in 1890 – but like all good set-ups they have their eyes very much on the future.

“We’re hoping to get an under-12 team up and running this season with a view to competing in the league in 2024,” said Major, who lives in Winchcombe and first started playing at the club at the age of nine, more than 25 years ago.

“We want to build up our youth section. We already have the All Stars for five to eight year-olds and the Dynamos for eight to 11-year-olds.”

That’s pretty full-on, of course, but the men still find time to play about 10 midweek friendlies throughout the season.

“We’re an old-fashioned cricket club who want to make new, happy memories,” said Major. “We all want to have a good time with hopefully a bit of success on the field.”

For more information about Winchcombe Cricket Club, visit www.winchcombecricketclub.co.uk