LIAM Dawson’s call up to the England World Cup squad could be the biggest thing to happen to Goatacre Cricket Club - not that his dad Andy will admit it.

The village’s greatest achievement to date came in the Village Cup final at Lord’s in 1990 when Kevin Iles’ century off just 39 balls secured them the trophy.

Andy played that day, after eventually finding his way out of the Long Room, but Liam looks set to overshadow their achievements when he flies out to India for the ICC World Twenty20 next month.

“He will never be as good as me,” joked Andy.

“If he can eclipse Kevin’s 100 at Lords off 39 balls and get lost as the next batsman coming out of the Long Room then he would have eclipsed everything.

“I think he has done a little bit more than I’ll ever do.”

Liam was only a baby at that time but it wasn’t long before he had a cricket bat in his hand and many, including club chairman John Wilkins, another veteran of that Lords final side, who had also made it to the final two years previous, saw his potential from an early age.

“Liam was always at the ground and once he could run he had a cricket bat in his hand and had people bowling to him non-stop,” he said.

“He was outstanding from day one and an absolute natural. He worked so hard as well and he just wanted to play cricket.

“I have three lads who are slightly older and he was playing in the same side as them.

“I remember I was coaching the under 13s and we were playing in a tournament over in Devizes and he was seven and was the player of the tournament.

“You could just tell he was so much better than everyone else at his level.”

Three players from the club, along with Liam’s brother Brad, are flying out for the first week of the competition, hopeful to see him start a game for England, having received their visas and had their vaccinations this week.

However, last year this seemed like a distant dream for Liam as he was offered the opportunity to temporarily leave Hampshire - a club he has been playing with for almost a decade after being spotted at a young age - to go on loan to Essex to rejuvenate what had become a stuttering season for the all-rounder.

A decision that came with a heavy heart but in hindsight is the reason why he is now given the chance to prove himself on the biggest stage.

“We had to ring him again to confirm if we had dreamt it or not,” said Brad.

“It just shows, with the amount of work he has put in, that you can get somewhere pretty special.

“He was gutted not to be playing for Hampshire but made a gutsy decision by telling them that he didn’t want to be playing second team cricket because he thought he was better than the second team.

“He proved them wrong and went to find a county who would have him on loan and got called back within 14 days, or something silly like that.

“It could have gone completely the other way for him I suppose but it worked out for him and he has come back a lot stronger.

“There is nothing saying that he is going to play at all because it is a ridiculous squad at the minute but even just to be a part of that from where he was last year is something special.”

IMAGINE Cruising of Royal Wootton Bassett have become main sponsors of Goatacre CC for the next three seasons.

Avon Rubber PLC, of Melksham, have agreed a five-year deal to sponsor the club’s junior section.

The deal will see Imagine Cruising branding on the club’s adult playing shirts and both Imagine Cruising and Avon Rubber branding on the junior shirts.

It coincides with Uzi Sports, of Swindon, and Grey Nichols becoming the club’s new official kit supplier.

Goatacre’s senior indoor nets will be held at Wootton Bassett Leisure Centre on Sunday afternoons between 2-4pm.

Five sessions have been booked, starting on Sunday, February 28 and ending on Sunday, April 3. There is no session on Sunday, March 27.

New members of all abilities are welcome. Contact John Wilkins 07798 680724 or email goatacrecc@hotmail.co.uk.

Junior nets will take place at Calne Leisure Centre between 4-5.30pm on Sundays, February 28, March, 6, 20 and April 3 & 10.

New members between six and 15 are welcome.

Contact Jon Haines 07973 821550 or email goatacrecc@hotmail.co.uk.