May's Bounty pavilion : Neil Smith picture Basingstoke & North Hants will dine at the top table of Southern Premier League cricket next summer after having their promotion to the Premier Division confirmed.
The Bountymen had to wait until the SPL’s annual meeting before having their promotion – as Division 1 runners-up – rubber stamped.
SPL1 champions Calmore Sports did not have the necessary ground accreditation at Loperwood Park to get promoted, so the second placed Bountymen take their place.
It will mean a return to nine weeks of all-day cricket to May’s Bounty for the first time since the club’s Home Counties Premier League days and a first taste of white ball 50-over cricket, using coloured clothing and black sight screens.
Reaching the top tier of the Southern League had always been the sole aim of the club, when they switched from the Thames Valley League in 2013.
A delighted club captain Mitch Stokes said: “It is great to see premier cricket at May's Bounty next year, the lads can't wait to get going.
"White ball cricket will be new to a lot of people and all day cricket too, so players will have to adapt through the season.”
Basingstoke are, in fact, celebrating a double promotion as their second team finished runners-up in Division 3 and will play in a higher standard next season.
“The promotions come at an exciting time for the club, with our new founded academy up and running, with head coach David Griffiths, the former Hampshire and Kent pace bowler, at the helm.
“Plans for the new clubhouse are with the local authority planners, so there are plenty of positive things happening.”
Stokes is looking to strengthen Basingstoke’s playing strength – but not at the expense of the cricketers who have got the club into the Premier Division.
“We are looking to recruit three players and one of those being an overseas, but we don't want to destabalise the club and have people leave because we are recruiting too many players.
“But it does give us competition for places should people wish to join.”
The Bountymen had to wait until the SPL’s annual meeting before having their promotion – as Division 1 runners-up – rubber stamped.
SPL1 champions Calmore Sports did not have the necessary ground accreditation at Loperwood Park to get promoted, so the second placed Bountymen take their place.
It will mean a return to nine weeks of all-day cricket to May’s Bounty for the first time since the club’s Home Counties Premier League days and a first taste of white ball 50-over cricket, using coloured clothing and black sight screens.
Reaching the top tier of the Southern League had always been the sole aim of the club, when they switched from the Thames Valley League in 2013.
A delighted club captain Mitch Stokes said: “It is great to see premier cricket at May's Bounty next year, the lads can't wait to get going.
"White ball cricket will be new to a lot of people and all day cricket too, so players will have to adapt through the season.”
Basingstoke are, in fact, celebrating a double promotion as their second team finished runners-up in Division 3 and will play in a higher standard next season.
“The promotions come at an exciting time for the club, with our new founded academy up and running, with head coach David Griffiths, the former Hampshire and Kent pace bowler, at the helm.
“Plans for the new clubhouse are with the local authority planners, so there are plenty of positive things happening.”
Stokes is looking to strengthen Basingstoke’s playing strength – but not at the expense of the cricketers who have got the club into the Premier Division.
“We are looking to recruit three players and one of those being an overseas, but we don't want to destabalise the club and have people leave because we are recruiting too many players.
“But it does give us competition for places should people wish to join.”
