Cumbria County Club spinner Matthew Siddall is joining Cockermouth for the 2022 season.
Siddall, 23, is based in Blackpool but is a pal of the new Cockermouth captain Matthew Sempill and other club players who have been part of the Cumbria squad.
Sempill said: “We are delighted that Sids will be part of the Cockermouth team for the 2022 season. He is an outstanding cricketer and a great lad.
“He has been excellent for Cumbria over the last 12 months and will be a fantastic addition for us.”
Out-going skipper Gareth White said: “All at the club are delighted to get Matthew on board. He is a top-class, proven performer with the ball and a great lad as well.
“He was a Northern Premier League winner in 2021 with 47 wickets at 15 apiece and is an established National Counties player for Cumbria, taking 26 wickets last season at 23 apiece.
“He is an excellent spinner with great control and variation and at 23 will be a great addition to the Cockermouth team.”
Cockermouth finished third in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division last season with champions Furness and Carlisle ahead of them.
Siddall joined the Blackpool club as a 12-year-old and admits that two of the biggest influences on his career have been a time spent in Australia and coaching from former Cumberland player, Richard Gleeson of Northants.
He played for Collegians in Australia during the winter of 2017/18 and that greatly improved his confidence.
“When I went out to Australia I lacked a bit of confidence but my time out there taught me to become mentally tougher.
“Every time I stepped out on to the pitch out there I got sledged because I was English, so that has made me mentally tough and taught me to bowl faster.
“The pitches out there are a lot flatter, so it taught me to bowl a bit quicker.”
Former Blackpool paceman Gleeson, who played for Cumberland (then, now Cumbria) has been his inspiration and the main reason he ended-up playing for Cumbria in the first place.
He said: “I would love to follow in Rick’s footsteps. He coached me and it’s been good to see him making it on the county scene.
“If I can get anywhere near to what he has done it would be an achievement.”
