West of England Premier One - Corsham

Five years of careful planning and building work both on and off the pitch have turned Corsham into Wiltshire's leading club and after a winter of heavy recruitment of new players, there is a growing confidence the Station Road outfit will be major challengers for the Stroud and Swindon West of England Premier League title this summer.

Newcomers this season include left handed opening batsman Richard Greatorex and slow left armer Mike Beel, who have both moved over from Trowbridge. Both are former Wiltshire players and at Corsham will team up again with their former Trowbridge team-mates Paul Marsh and Craig Gibbens.

South African batsman Joe Breet has joined from neighbours Calne and other newcomers include former Oxford University and Dorset Minor Counties opening bowler Toby Sharpe and Shirehampton all-rounder Nick Beedell.

Corsham will also be boosted by the return of prolific opening batsman Dwain Winter, who is back after taking a year's break from cricket, and of Indian seam bowler Ranadeb Bose, who was unable to play last summer because of visa difficulties.

Corsham will also be able to call on the services of Gloucestershire contracted all-rounder Roger Sillence when he is not required by the first class county.

Add those to the established stars like Steve Perrin, one of the most destructive batsmen in club cricket, Neil Shardlow, Wiltshire's regular wicket-keeper batsman, and Mark Coxon, the prolific middle-order batsman, and Corsham should have a line-up to worry all the other teams in the league.

"The new players will bring invaluable experience and competition for places," said Gibbens.

"And all of them have asked to come to Corsham; we haven't gone out to recuit them.

"The aim has always been to make Corsham a club players want to come and play for and that's happening now.

"We thought we had a strong squad last year, but this year it's even stronger and when everyone is available selection is going to very difficult."

"Corsham is such a good club and we have assembled such a good squad if players I feel under an obligation to make sure we win the title this year."

But Gibbens has warned his players not to expect an easy run to the championship.

"There are some other very good teams in the league and if we don't play to our full potential or have an off day we will be punished," he said.

Corsham finished third last season and their main challenge is again likely to come from perennial title favourites Bath and Keynsham, last summer's surprise league winners.

The influx of newcomers has led to rumours that Corsham are now paying their players, but they have been denied by club chairman Tony Shardlow.

"I've heard those rumours, but they are completely untrue.

"We do not pay a single penny to any player and all players pay an annual subscription," he said.

While the league crown is the priority for this summer, Corsham are also looking to the future.

The club's youth coaching set-up has been restructured as a Youth Academy, headed by Neil Shardlow, and the club's youth teams will be playing in the Bath and North Wilts leagues this summer.

Corsham open their league campaign with a trip to newly promoted Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.