Chairman Graham Cottle and Director of Cricket Ben Swingler, along with the club’s steadfast team captains, have devoted their efforts during the offseason to build upon last year’s experiences and pave the way for a successful 2024 season.
With each Captain having a clear strategy to advance the club and its teams, Cottle added confidently, “Each Captain has specific targets to achieve for the club this year. Our standards remain high, and I am certain that with the collective effort invested during the winter, our goals will be met.”
The offseason has laid solid foundations, with indoor nets and recruitment being key areas of focus. With improved facilities and the addition of some new players, including overseas player Cariston Diedericks from South Africa, the club is confident that the team is in a strong position, ready to embrace the challenges and triumphs of the season. Cottle added, “We have full faith that individuals will be ready to support and propel the club forward during challenging times ahead. We’re optimistic about the season.”
Kislingbury Temperance 1st XI team captain Omarie Allen added, “I am excited about the upcoming season. We’ve learned some valuable lessons from last year’s experiences, and I am confident that the 2024 season will be better.”
With the first team fully confident of the season ahead, the second team are just as optimistic, looking to follow the season with back-to-back promotions after their promotion from division 8 and aiming to chase the league title. John Peel, second team Captain and Groundsman, went on to say, “We are in an incredible place, stronger than last year. With a strong batting lineup, the club is pushing forward and bringing the youth through. The bowling section is full of young, hungry lads looking to strive alongside the senior bowling core to cement the team’s plans for the upcoming season. I hope to see some of the younger core players pushing for a starting place in the 1st XI at some point through the season.”
Temperance’s third team’s performance last season was nothing short of remarkable. They clinched the third spot in Division 15 and emerged victorious in their final seven matches. This outstanding feat has instilled a strong sense of confidence in the team. As our third Captain, Andy Heather, rightly puts it, “Last season was a monumental achievement for the team, which remained steadfast in its commitment to field at least six youth players in each match.”
To ensure the team is ready for continued success, our players have been diligently preparing during the offseason. Heather elaborates, “We participated in a U16 indoor league, competing against strong teams like Saints, Horton House, and Spencer Bruerne from October to December last year. Despite finishing third, we gained invaluable experience from this form of cricket. At the start of the year, we organised weekly training sessions at Brixworth Barn, focusing on the transition of our youth players into adult cricket. Several first-team players also led sessions, honing our bowling techniques and batting strategies. These sessions continued until indoor training commenced at the County Ground in February. The 3s net has seen a significant increase in attendance, particularly from our younger players, who have shown clear improvement in their batting and bowling skills since last season.”
The teams are clearly primed for the upcoming season, and the club has undergone significant changes since last year, including changes to their home ground. “We have brought all the ground care in-house as a testament to our commitment to continuous improvement, and we have a great team of volunteers within the club to manage it,” commented Heather.
The club is excited to announce that the ground will host two county U15 and U16 games in June. These games will showcase talented youth players and demonstrate the club’s excellent facilities and hospitality. Heather concluded,
This will further enhance our club’s reputation within the county, and we warmly invite all our club members and supporters to join us in cheering on our team.
Andy Heather
