A BUSY season at Dumbleton kicks off on Friday with a family night and the official opening of the new nets by Worcestershire ace Daryl Mitchell.

The Vale cricketer will cut the ribbon on four new nets which have taken two years to bring to fruition thanks to a grant from Sport England and significant fundraising efforts from club members.

Dumbleton now boast 13 junior teams, five senior men’s teams and two women’s squads.

Other new developments include the addition of a New Zealander to the first team as they continue to compete in tier two of the West of England Premier League.

Mitch Hammond plays A Grade cricket in Australia and will add depth to the batting line-up and bowl off-spin.

Ollie Forbes returns to the batting line-up after a two-year absence.

The seconds' young guns, led by Robin Churchman, will seek to consolidate their Gloucestershire League Division Four position after promotion last year.

And the third team will continue to nurture young careers and extend older ones in the district league.

The women’s game continues to grow at Dumbleton and they hope to go one better than their second place in last year’s Cotswold League.

For more about the club, visit dumbleton.play-cricket.com.