Local cricket: Spring View skipper Jonny Broad aims to make himself at home in Love Lane Liverpool Competition Division One

Spring View have finally made it to the second tier of the Love Lane Liverpool Competition - and skipper Jonny Broad wants to make sure they’re there to stay.

View joined the Comp from the Bolton league in 2013 and finished third in Division Two on their first attempt - until last season, that was the best it got.

But after their darkest hour of ninth place in 2019, followed by everything 2020 had to throw at them, last year they broke into the top two.

Caldy edged the title, but Broad puts that down to the roll of the weather dice - the two sides finished with an almost identical record of points per completed game.

Now he can’t wait to see how his players cope with a new challenge.

“Division One is going to be the strongest it’s ever been this year,” he said. “It’s going to make for some interesting games.

“We’ll be trying to win every game and cause a few upsets.

“The primary aim is to stay in the division, but we’re hoping to finish a bit higher up than third bottom.”

Key to their success will be all-rounder Suleman Khan, who topped the division’s batting and bowling averages last season with 812 runs at 62, and 62 wickets costing just 9 apiece.

Formerly of Lightcliffe CC in the Bradford Cricket League, Khan clearly has what it takes to play at the highest level - Broad is thankful he’s doing so at Platt Bridge.

He said: “He’s a very experienced cricketer and we expect him to be good for us again.”