Young Finedon side urged to create their own history

That is the ethos for Finedon Dolben’s crop of youngsters as they attempt to make their mark on the Premier Division.

The Avenue Road side opened their 2016 campaign with a dominant seven-wicket win over Rushton last weekend with half-centuries from Sean Davis and Greig Hofbauer guiding them home at a canter.

It was an important early marker for them as they look to re-establish themselves as a force in the title race.

But they might have to rid the burden of past glories from the shoulders if they are to do it.

“I spoke to the lads before the game on Saturday and told them to forget how successful this club has been,” Chris Goode, who has returned to the captaincy after a year’s break, said.

“We had something like 10 titles in 13 seasons and we can’t try to replicate that.

“We’re a young team. I’m 31, Greig’s 28 and the next oldest is probably Callum Berrill in his mid-20s. Apart from that they are all 16 to 21.

“I’ve told them we just need to be the best we can be.

“The future looks great and I just hope they can all grow together.

“One of the reasons we didn’t go for an overseas this year is because we have an lot of very good youngsters.

“If we brought someone in they would be taking the place of a young, local lad.”

That does not mean title ambitions are on hold, though.

The eyes at Finedon are firmly fixed on wrestling the crown away from their rivals just down the A6.

“They may be young but they’ve played an awful lot of cricket,” Goode added.

“I think we’re definitely good enough to be challenging at the top.

“If you’re playing competitive sport – no matter what it is – the ambition always has to be to win games and win trophies. We’ve got the ability to be up there – we just need to stick together.

“In the past this side has perhaps been very good individually but not put it together as a team.

“That is something we’ve highlighted as being very important this season.”

And if they get the mental side of things right, Goode believes they have the balance in the team to prosper.

He continued: “We’re looking to play three seamers and two spinners.

“If you look at the sides that won this league – Rushden, Peterborough, Finedon – they always have two good spinners.

“We’ve got Tom Sole from the Northants Academy, Adam Nunn and George Parker so we are well fixed in that area.”