Dumbleton Cricket Club, who have achieved so much in recent times, will take another big step forward this season when they play in the top tier of West of England cricket for the first time in their history.

It’s a step forward that will see them rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bridgwater, Bedminster, Bath and Bristol in Premier One of the West of England Premier League.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” said chairman David Smith. “It’s going to be very tough but it’s going to be a lot of fun.

“It will be great to go to a lot of new grounds but we know we face a huge challenge. Our main aim is to be competitive in the Premier League.”

Dumbleton, who won the National Village Cup at Lord’s in 2022, clinched their place in Premier One after holding off Goatacre to win the Premier 2 Glos/Wilts title last season.

They won 13 and lost just three of their 18 games – two were abandoned – and this season they will be strengthened by the return of South Australian overseas star Tom Kelly.

The 25-year-old hard-hitting batsman, who has played in both the Big Bash and the Sheffield Shield, made a huge impression when he was with the club in 2024 and Smith said: “It’s brilliant that he’s coming back, really good.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s such a bonus to have him around, he’s such a likeable boy.

“He’s not just a great cricketer, he’s a good bloke to have around.”

The club will be hopeful that Kelly can hit the ground running – they begin their league campaign at Burbage & Easton Royal on Saturday 2^nd May – and Smith continued: “If he gets a lot of runs, that will give us a decent chance of winning games. We’re pretty strong.”

The team will again be captained by top-order batsman Myles Holland – his older brother Dan bats at the top of the innings – and he will be hoping to be able to call on the services of young Gloucestershire batsman Tommy Boorman as often as possible over the upcoming campaign.

The just-turned 21-year-old, who signed a two-year rookie contract extension with Gloucestershire at the end of last season, played a number of white-ball games for the county last season and is looking to kick on in 2026.

“He played in about 50 per cent of our league games last season but it depends on his Gloucestershire commitments,” said Smith.

“At least now we’re playing in Premier One, the county won’t be saying he should be playing at a better standard.”

Dumbleton were playing in the Gloucestershire Division of the West of England Premier League as recently as 2023 and their second promotion in two years has been reflected in the calibre of player they have been able to attract over the winter.

Top-order left-handed batsman Ewan Gegg, who also keeps wicket, has joined from Stroud, while promising all-rounder Arthur Hanson, another left-handed batsman who also bowls left-arm spin, has made the move from Bourton Vale.

Australian Max Rouvray, an aggressive all-rounder, has also joined as their 2^nd XI overseas player.

The 2^nd XI are playing in the Village Knockout Cup this season, a competition for which the club’s 1^st XI are no longer eligible after last season’s promotion.

That will be an exciting experience for a lot of the players and these are certainly exciting times for everyone at Dumbleton because on Monday 25^th May the club will officially open their new second ground, a ground that represents another huge step forward for the club.

The ground is located within the grounds of Dumbleton Hall, immediately adjacent to their main club and clubhouse on Dairy Lane.