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NEWS 2008
APRIL 26th
Shelton revels in Premier Ambition
by Andrew Radd
It must be Wollaston's most eagerly-anticipated sporting
contest for centuries
Since, probably, the great tug-of-war tussle between the
ploughboys and the miller's apprentices, shortly after King Henry III awarded
his royal charter to the village's Michaelmas Fair in about 1260.
Or at least since last September, when Harmit
Bahra's side beat Geddington to ensure top-flight cricket
at London Road for the first time since the club entered the old County League
half-a-century ago.
Wollaston make their NCL Premier Division debut this afternoon, away to
Rushton.
It's a summer full of exciting possibilities for all concerned, and not least
for batting stalwart Nick Shelton who stands on the threshold of history.
His current tally of 10,366 runs for the first team places him just 127 behind
the all-time record-holder, Paul Jones.
And the prospect of setting a new mark during the side's maiden 'Prem'
campaign is appealing – to put it mildly.
"I've been around here a long time, and have been lucky enough to get a knock
most weeks," says Shelton, who made his first appearance in Wollaston colours
way back in 1983.
"So I would have been disappointed not to rack up a few runs!
"Obviously it'd be nice to break the record playing in the Premier Division –
I can't deny that.
"And it'll be even nicer if it comes in the first couple of matches.
"But – and I know this sounds a bit cheesy – the most important thing is that
the team does well.
"So I'll be quite happy to sit there and watch the likes of Liam Bates and
Mark Ralph knocking it around."
Promotion for Wollaston came after a string of near-misses in recent years.
They finished fourth in NCL Division One in both 2003 and 2004, and climbed to
runners-up spot in each of the following two seasons – missing out to Burton
Latimer by just four points on the last Saturday of the league programme in
2006.
"Burton are a great bunch of lads and we've had some terrific games against
them over the years," adds Shelton.
"We usually seemed to have the rub of the green. In fact, I think the only
time they beat us was in the season they went up.
"You look at the situation in football where the Championship is very
competitive now, and very difficult to get out of."
"That's certainly the case in our first division – especially with only one
team going up.
"Yes, it was frustrating for us to get so close so often. But it's usually the
best side that gets promoted in the end, and you just have to accept that.
"I certainly think we were the best team last year."
When it comes to pitching the level of ambition for the next few months,
history would appear to be on Wollaston's side.
It's an interesting little factoid that since 2001 the club gaining promotion
into the top flight has managed to stay there – from Stony
Stratford via Rushden (2002), Desborough (2003), Rushton (2004) and
Irthlingborough (2005) to Burton.
And those who claim the current 'Prem' is, in effect, two divisions in one
might point to the Northants Championship table for 2000 to back up their
contention.
Of the 12 teams, only six will be competing for the NCL's main prize in 2008 –
Finedon, County Colts (now NCCC Academy), Old Northamptonians,
Peterborough, Northampton Saints and Irthlingborough.
And they filled half-a-dozen of the top seven places in 2007.
Horton House have joined Wellingborough Town, Rothwell, Brixworth and Old
Wellingburians in dropping down, while Bedford Town are no longer involved in
senior cricket.
So what price Wollaston to infiltrate the 'magic circle' of leading sides?
Shelton insists: "Everyone here is up for the challenge.
"We're not naive enough to think that we won't have some very, very tough
games this year.
"And after getting used to winning plenty of matches in Division One, those
days will be the ones that really test us.
"To use another comparison with soccer – you hear people who are promoted into
the Premier League say that their first target is to simply stay there.
"But I'm optimistic and I think we need to set our sights a bit higher than
that.
"When you see Burton Latimer managing to beat Finedon in the league last year
– it gives all of us hope!"
Shelton's player profile on Wollaston's superb website includes the suggestion
that, in the event of a whopping big lottery win, the club should 'employ
Brett Lee for a year and buy some concrete underpants to give to the
opposition.'
In fact, they have rejected the 'quick fix' approach to ensuring
competitiveness at the top level, keeping close-season recruitment to a
minimum.
"The big thing to remember is that we are a club, not a team. It's important
we don't lose that," said Shelton.
"You look at other clubs who've brought in five or six players from outside
and very often it's backfired on them.
"Looking at the cricketers we have here, I think we're capable of holding our
own in the division.
"After all, it's what you play for – the chance to test yourself against the
best opposition around."
Wollaston from the peak of his cap to the studs in his boots, Shelton readily
admits that seeing his team-mate Simon Driver hit the winning boundary against
Geddington last year was "the best moment of my cricketing life so far."
Could anything possibly beat that? The next 22 Saturdays may provide an
answer.
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