THE new season is met with an air of great anticipation and excitement at the Parks after what has been another busy winter for Bridgwater Cricket Club.

On the cricket side the club begins the season with Piers McBride in his second season as Head Coach and a new club captain in the form of outstanding wicket keeper batsmen Alex Eckland, who joined Bridgwater in 2020.

They will be hoping to push the 1st XI a step further to improve on last season’s creditable 4th place, to form a concerted challenge on the WEPL Championship.

Cricket manager Scott Sealey, alongside Eckland and McBride, have been busy filling some of the gaps in the squad.

The signing of Kiwi pacer, Jarrod McKay, from Otago in New Zealand, to replace Willlams as overseas professional is an exciting one for the club, with McKay recently taking 3 England wickets in his appearance for a New Zealand XI against England back in February.

McKay is set to arrive in time for the final pre-season fixture at Sidmouth on April 29 and will give Bridgwater genuine pace leading their attack.

Whilst Alfie Ogborne remains a BCC player, there will be restrictions to the amount he can bowl in club cricket, so Bridgwater have signed Somerset 2nds allrounder Luke Pearson-Taylor to bolster their pace bowling options.

Pearson joins from Clevedon CC and is in the same mould as Ogborne, having recently spent the 2022 winter in Australia to give himself every opportunity to force himself into the professional game.

The club hierarchy are also delighted to have made the signing of Warwickshire allrounder Jake Lintott for 2023.

Taunton-born Lintott has a lot of WEPL experience and should be able to bolster the Bridgwater line up for approximately half the games, adding his experience and competitiveness as well as an interesting left arm ‘chinamen’ option as well as a top 6 batter.

The club have not just seen incomings, as Bridgwater have unfortunately lost Tom Allcoat, as he is relocating back to North Gloucs, and club stalwart Ed Habberfield has decided to have a season playing Premier Two cricket at Shapwick.

Ally Witts continues as 2nd XI captain, after leading them promotion to WEPL Premier Two for the first time, as they continue to be the highest ranked 2nd XI in the WEPL.

The 3rd XI continues in the Somerset Premier Division in 2023, with the Pointers in Division 5.

Both had fantastic seasons in 2022, with these sides continue to provide young players a pathway to higher cricket opportunities, with the experienced Simon Keith leading the Pointers for the first time with Andy Venning as his vice-captain.

The Bridgwater Woman’s section begin a new chapter, as one of 8 sides entered into the inaugural West of England Premier Women’s League, a unique initiative which sees WEPL as only the second region to adopt a Women’s Premier League.

The Bridgwater side will once again be led by Tilly Bond, with Stuart Butt as coach, and they should be competitive, with several Somerset Women and Somerset Player Pathway players joining the club and being available.

41 Bridgwater cricketers and supporters have just returned from La Manga having had a magnificent opportunity for cricket activities in a much warmer climate, including five T20 games, winning 4 from 5.

The tour resulted in brilliant exposure for some of the younger cricketers, with the use of excellent facilities to practice, professionally organised and something the club will probably revisit again next year.

Off the pitch, Rob Hake continues as Head groundsman with Andy Higgins as his dedicated assistant.

Matt Habberfield continues as Chair, with Guy Rossiter as Commercial Manager and Ian Higgins Treasurer. Clubhouse and Bar Manager Marc Crisp looking forward to giving supporters the outstanding welcome they are used.

The planned extension to the club’s pavilion remains on the cards with planning approved for a 2nd tier which will see enhanced facilities available to players, in terms of 1st floor changing rooms, as well as a balcony and dedicated sponsors room for matchday hospitality.

This will enable to the club bar area to be extended, with enhanced facilities for all members and supporters. A small phase of this project has been completed, with the relocation of the rest room facilities, an extended cellar and disabled toilets.