Goatacre, having been promoted to Wiltshire & Gloucester Division 1, are looking forward to their 75th anniversary season with great anticipation.

But having struggled in this league and being relegated two years ago, they are under no illusion of the tough task ahead.

With Andy Dawson moving to Chippenham after 14 years service along with sons Liam & Bradley, Steve Gee and Matthew Wilkins at university, and Jonathan Wilkins in Australia and New Zealand until June, Goatacre are keen to attract new players of first team quality.

Batting wise, expectations are high that Australian Scott Curwood, captain Peter Turner, brother Robert and the veteran Kevin Iles can continue to score heavily.

The bowling looks a little light but with Peter Turner, Adam Iles, Rhan Heer and Kevin Iles available, there are players who can take wickets at this level.

The new season brings fixtures against old friends at Devizes, Swindon and Wootton Bassett and begins at Hatherley & Reddings in Cheltenham on Saturday.

Hopes are high for a good run in The Cricketer National Village Championship, which the club won in 1988 and 1990. The competition begins with a home tie against Baydon on Sunday.

Last year's second team captain Richard Witts has moved to Winsley in the hope of first team cricket.

New captain Robin Du Boulay will lead the team in Wilts & Glos 2nd XI Division 2 and much will depend on him, Mark Atkinson, Ed Wilkins and David Oliver to score decent runs.

The bowling also looks light and much will depend on Du Boulay, Wilkins and Ben Miller to take regular wickets. The season begins at home to Gloucester on Saturday.

The 3rd XI, under new captain Pat Murphy, will play in Wiltshire League Division 6, and following the retirement of Colin Beattie, will rely on three or four experienced players to play alongside members of the youth teams to help develop those players.

n Goatacre entertained near neighbours Wootton Bassett in their first friendly fixture of the season and batted first after winning the toss.

Steve Gee was comprehensively bowled by Lancaster second ball, bringing 12-year-old Max Delamain in to join Ben Miller. The pair added 30 runs before Miller was caught for 24.

Delamain batted superbly for an hour and three quarters on a difficult track, scoring 26 before being caught at mid on.

Andrew Iles scored a hard-hitting 36, and a sensible partnership of 62 between John Wilkins with 37 and Adam Iles with an unbeaten 33 took Goatacre to 195-8.

Wootton Bassett never looked in danger of losing as Millington (42) and Griffin (35) batted well early on.The introduction of Wilkins, who took 3-30 gave Goatacre some hope, but a hard-hitting 24 from Clarke, along with 43 extras, gave Bassett a four-wicket win with seven overs to spare.