NETHERFIELD Cricket Club have announced the appointment of Matt Jackson as the new club captain.

Mr Jackson will be taking on responsibility from Ben Barrow who has made the decision to step down from the role at the end of last season.

Jackson who is now into his 5th season has proven to be a big hit with the Parkside Road faithful, an opening bowler who last season ran out as the club’s top wicket taker where he finished with 50 wickets including best figures of 7-24 in Netherfield’s win against Chorley.

However, Jackson has experience in the role after he led his former club Torrisholme, before joining Netherfield.

Matt who is already preparing for the new season expressed his honour in taking over the club captaincy.

“It is a tremendous honour to have been asked to captain Netherfield Cricket Club for the 2022 season.

“This will be my fifth season at the club and I continue to have nothing but respect and admiration for what Netherfield stands for and everyone associated in making it one of the leading clubs in the area.

“With affiliations to both Cumbria and Lancashire Cricket Boards and ties to Northern League, Palace Shield, South Lakeland and Westmorland League cricket, the club has a long history of quality cricket.

“Last season saw some success where we won the NPCL 20/20 competition as well as third place league finish, we had the leading amateur batsmen in Ben Barrow and the league’s best wicket keeper in Finley Richardson.

“The season saw further development of our promising stars in Samuel Medhurst, Reece Irving, Bertie Medhurst, and James Bowmen.

“And our Second team winning the league made it a good 2021 all round, with Daniel Gaunt and Daniel Bernet starring with the bat, while Robbie Dwyer, Josh Irving and the Shorrock brothers impressed with ball in hand, I feel we have a lot to look forward to as a wider group.

“There is never anything but high aspirations at the club. Supported by Head Coach Jonathan Hall and the cricket committee led by Mike Dugdale & Ian Heath off the field we are in good hands. As a club it’s important for us to continue the player pathway and develop juniors into the senior game is part of that and improving all the group whatever age.

“Netherfield should rightly have players knocking on the county door at all age groups. So, my aims as captain will be to maintain those high standards and club aspirations.

“I’m pleased to say Dan Bernet will join me as Vice-Captain and Josh Charles is taking the 2nd X1 captaincy. We will be a solid tight knit team and I’m a work hard, play hard cricketer.

“I want the team to play for each other and enjoy each other’s time on and off the field in equal measure. We have an exceptional crop of players and I am hoping that the senior players (Barrow, Dixon, Earl, Wileman and Richardson) will be as committed in 2022 and if we are we won’t be far off our targets.

“That said, I’d still encourage anyone looking to step up their cricket from the local leagues to come along to our net sessions (they start on February 13th 2pm 2022 at Dallam High School) all four senior sides will be training and they are open to all abilities, with new, current, and previous players all welcome.

“I look forward to seeing people down at the club once the season gets underway and I am personally really looking forward to a summer of cricket.”