Just over a month after playing their final league game of the summer, the cricketers from St Philips North were happily searching for their whites again for their opening match of the new Gloucestershire Indoor Cricket League season.

And they made a good start to their 6-a-side campaign, beating Charlton Kings by three wickets after restricting them to 86-4.

St Philips North compete in Division Three of the Cheltenham Indoor League, a competition they have been playing in since 2014.

They’ve been going for a lot longer in the summer of course – they play in in Division 8B of the Gloucestershire Cricket League – although their name is more recent as they are an amalgamation of two clubs.

“We joined forces with Cheltenham North Cricket Club in the early 2000s,” said Craig Sprigmore, who used to play for St Philips and is one of the driving forces behind St Philips North.

“St Philips originally played at the Burrows but since 2008 St Philips North have played at Stanton, it’s beautiful.

“We’re a very small club, we all do multiple tasks to keep the club going.”

They are selecting from the same 15 or 16 players who play in the summer for the indoor league, a side which is captained by Sprigmore’s son Adam.

Craig Sprigmore is a big fan of the Cheltenham Indoor League which is played at Leisure at Cheltenham.

“It’s 12 overs-a-side and it’s a really fast game, everyone is involved,” he said. “It’s good fun, people play to win but it’s played in a good spirit.

“We play in whites and all the normal cricket rules apply.”

There are slight differences, however.

“A batsman has to retire at 25 and we play last man standing,” Sprigmore continued.

“You can be caught off the wall and roof so what is a good shot in outdoor cricket may not be good indoors. In indoor cricket you want to get the ball into the corners.”

The ball, which is red, is also different.

“It’s slightly lighter,” said Sprigmore. “It’s hard plastic rather than leather, it swings a mile for the first 12 overs!”

Sprigmore, who is 55, has been playing cricket for many years but indoor cricket is something that is still relatively new to him.

His older son Luke captains the summer side but Craig is keen to stress that it is not just the Sprigmore family who do plenty for the club.

“There are a lot of people, quite a few families,” he said. “There’s Paul Price and his son Lewis.

“Warren Francis is our longest-serving player, he originally played for St Philips where he used to play with his father Bryan. Warren captained the club for many years and still plays, as does his son Jack who is a former captain.

“Pete Day originally played for Cheltenham North, his daughter Poppy is a loyal supporter and regularly makes the cakes for us.

“Everybody works really hard at the club, the future is bright.”