FINCHAMPSTEAD Cricket Club are in discussions to bring Jandre Coetzee back next year, writes Dave Wright.

The South African has enjoyed a sensational first season, playing a leading role as the club secured the Home Counties Premier League title for the second time.

Having looked the likely winners for several weeks, Finchampstead sealed the championship last Saturday when they defeated Slough on a day when batsman Andrew House smashed two batting records.

While House and team-mates have offered solid support, it is the bowling performances of Coetzee that raised Finchampstead above their league rivals.

In 13 completed matches the 32-year-old left-arm seamer captured 55 wickets, taking five or more in a game on seven occasions.

Against Great & Little Tew, the side promoted with Finchampstead from Division 2 last year, he took 7-16 in the home match – clean bowling all of them – and 7-20 in the away fixture.

“He has been sensational and certainly made a huge impact,” said club president Neil Doody.

“JC, as we call him, has helped to raise the whole team and this has challenged others to do well.

“It goes without saying we want him to return next year and I can confirm we are in discussion with him, but it is early days yet.

“We are sure he wants to come back and we are discussing various matters with him such as coaching roles, not only at the club, but locally as well.

“He goes back to South Africa next week and everyone at Finchampstead will be delighted if he does return, although perhaps some of our league rivals will not share those views.

“He has put us top of the table with some sensational bowling performances and he has also scored quite a few runs as well.”

But Doody says Finchampstead are a long way from being a one-man band and the rest of the young team, led by skipper Dan Marles, have certainly played a big role in the team’s sensational season.

“Winning the title for the first time since 2001 is really the culmination of many years’ effort,” said Doody.

“We have an excellent youth policy, whereby we coach and train the youngsters in the best way possible.

“This happens over a long period of time and then our youth committee and the club itself ensures that players are placed in the right sides and get the right introduction to cricket.

“This has been reflected this season by the fact that four of our five Saturday teams are likely to win their respective leagues with three of them still unbeaten going into the final round of fixtures.

“So you have the icing on the cake with the first team, but going right down to the fifth team and the success is there to see.”

Doody added: “Another factor behind our success is that our wickets are almost second to none. The two grounds are in magnificent condition, and this certainly attracts players and helps them to raise their game.

“There is a great spirit throughout the club and we can all look back with pride on what has been an excellent season.”

Finchampstead completed their HCPL home fixtures in tremendous style last Saturday with a 56-run victory over Slough.

They posted an impressive 352-7 in their 50 overs with Andrew House scoring 228 which broke two records.

The club’s previous highest individual league score was 156 that Matt Jones – who skippered the side against Slough – made against Burnham in 2009.

House also beat the league’s highest score, which was 215 not out made by Aftab Khan for Burnham against Oxford last September.

Sadly, one Finchampstead supporter, Wilf Bagshaw, passed away last Thursday at the age of 96.

A former senior nurse at Broadmoor Hospital, he was a vice-president of the club.

His funeral service will be held on Friday, September 16 (2.15pm) at Easthampstead Crematorium.