PARLEY are celebrating promotion into County Division One – 10 years after joining the Hampshire League as a Regional Division Four West club in 2008.

Amazingly, two of the players who turned out in their debut match 10 seasons ago – Alex Cridland and Jack Rowett – were in the Parley team that clinched the County Two title with a massive win at Redlynch & Hale, where the visitors racked up 332 for seven.

It was Parley’s sixth promotion in eight years – the club deciding several seasons ago, having won the Dorset League three times on the trot, to concentrate its efforts on the ultimate goal of a Southern Premier League place.

“We have lost only six games in the past four seasons,” said skipper Sam Collins, who celebrated his maiden Minor Counties Championship century for Dorset this summer.

“We have the makings of a pretty good side, but having not played or watched any County One, it is hard to know how the standard will compare next season.”

Collins top scored with 559 runs this season, while Shane Green (483) and Alex Nippard (462) each hit centuries.

Parley’s leading wicket takers were Oli Green (19) and Tom Blakeley (15).

“Eight of the team that played at Redlynch came up through our well established youth set up, all of them showing great commitment and dedication to the club,” Collins added.

“We’ve provide a launch pad for numerous talented young cricketers to play locally and have naturally lot quite a few, especially to the likes of Bashley (Rydal) and Bournemouth.

“But we’re keen not to become a feeder club to the local Premier League sides.”