Collingham and District Cricket Club captain Oli Dyson previews return to Notts Premier Division

Collingham and District Cricket Club captain Oli Dyson has said the club is in a ‘great spot’ ahead of their new campaign, writes Will Hugall.

The club begin life back in the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board Premier Division at Division 2 level, with their last appearance there having been in 2005.

They finished 3rd in the South Nottinghamshire Cricket League Division A last season to get there, something that at the very least met their expectations.

Dyson said: “Last year we knew what the target was going into the season, that was to reach the top five, to gain promotion to the newly-formed Premier League [Division] 2.

“That was our goal and I guess on paper we did it quite comfortably.

“It was sort of a season of mixed results, but we did what we needed to do and there were lots and lots of positives to take from it.”

They are joined in the new level by four fellow promoted clubs, who will each offer a particular challenge and make for a competitive field in the newly-established division.

The likes of Balderton and Gedling and Sherwood join them there, with trips to Caythorpe, Clipstone and Cuckney set to be new tests.

“It’s just a feeling of excitement for this year really, with the new league and different opposition”, Dyson said.

“I think when you look at it, there’s some different teams, some new grounds, but going to places like Welbeck, because we know how good the facilities are there, and then going back to grounds that we used to place at in the Newark Alliance, places like Thoresby Colliery, [they will be the highlights].

“But I think the South Notts teams will surprise a few, so your West Bridgfordians, your Cavaliers [and Carrington], they’re such a big strong club with such a huge pool of players, so I think it’s going to be another tight league to be honest.”

The winter has required teams to strengthen for what is an uncertain challenge, and Collingham have been quick to identify the areas where this is necessary.

Dyson said: “We’ve had a good winter recruitment-wise; we’ve got hold of three really solid first-team players.”

“We’ve got Cav King and Max Shenton, who have come across from Caythorpe Notts, and then we’ve signed another lad, a 16-year-old called Liam Tew, from Melton Cricket Club, who’s sort of in and around the Leicestershire academy.”

“He’s 16 but he’s a really exciting prospect, a really exciting player, he’s really impressed in the pre-season games so we’re excited to have him on board and we’re looking forward to [seeing] how those three go.”

With such talent on board, Collingham are hopeful that they can certainly hold their own amongst some tough opposition.

The pride of stepping up to a new level is obvious, as the achievement forms part of a wider upward curve for the club.

“The club is growing massively year-on-year”, said Dyson.

“We now have nearly two teams per age group from the all-stars, which is really young little kids all the way up to under-15s. We’ve also now got two women’s sides, with a view to creating a sort of girls-only junior side so that there’s a pathway from the younger ones through to the women’s cricket.”

“We enter an evening league side, so we’re starting to see the juniors again after a few years, we’re starting to see a few of them progress up to the senior set-up.

“We’re in a great spot. We’ve just got to harness it, embrace it, and keep going with it.”

Dyson’s main aim is to finish the season with a winning record and to ensure that the ethos built around the side continues to flourish.

He said: “That really is our aim, that everyone enjoys it, sticks together as a group, enjoys each other’s company and we know that the rest of it will sort of take care of itself.”

“So just all-round, we’re in a really great spot, it’s exciting, and hopefully with 2022, the weather’s good and we can have a great year.”

“Come down, whether you play, you’re a supporter, a volunteer, whatever, just enjoy it and see what Collingham’s all about.”

The side start their season with a trip to Clipstone this weekend, before hosting their first game at Dale Field against West Bridgfordians next Saturday.