A LACK of finances mean that Burghill, Tillington & Weobley won't be fielding an overseas player this season.

A break in at the villagers' Brick House ground earlier this year hit the club hard, with an expensive CCTV and alarm system now in place.

Burghill ply their trade in Worcestershire League Division One and start their campaign this Saturday at Bewdley.

"Members and local businesses have rallied round in our hour of need, which has made us even more determined to continue growing the club for its members and the community," said chairman Steve de Souza.

"However, due to a lack of finances we will not be hosting an overseas player this year.

"We are hoping our young guns will step up to the plate and make our first team competitive.

"Ben Owens will be leading the firsts, Toby Whitmarsh the seconds and Craig Lane the thirds.

"Neil Box is also back onboard as director of cricket.

"Neil has been sorely missed and will add some steel and structure to the sides this year.

"Ben Parkinson has joined us from Fulwood & Broughton, who play in the Premier Division of the Palace Shield.

"Ben is a stylish top order batsman and, together with Ben Owens, will be spearheading our formidable batting line-up, which will include Owen Morgan, Edward Symonds, Barney Morgan, Sam Johnston, Stephen Caple, Tyler Garrard and Tim Walsh.

"Fifteen year old Sam Williams, Greg Penning and Ryan Knight are also talented young players who will be chomping at the bit to get into the first team.

"Barney Morgan will be leading the attack with Toby Wildig and we have high hopes this year for 16-year-old Joel Aldridge.

"The evergreen James Burston, who was our leading wicket taker last year with 27 wickets ,will also add control to the seam attack.

"The club has come a long way in a short space of time and is going from strength to strength.

"This season, other than Brockhampton, we will be playing the highest standard of cricket in the county.

"It doesn’t seem that long ago we were plying our trade in Division Two of the Marches League.

"Now we are up there playing against much bigger clubs with greater resources and membership bases."