HARTLEY Wintney Cricket Club have secured a substantial and generous two year sponsorship package with Henry and James, the well known estate agents with offices in Belgravia and Chelsea.

The sponsorship will be used to assist the club’s active junior section, improvements to the ground and pavilion and to provide shirts to all the club’s players.

Speaking about the deal, club chairman David Harrison expressed his sincere thanks to Henry and James and particularly to their chief executive James Bailey, whose son plays for the club’s junior section.

The new sponsorship deal is in addition to the continued and valuable support given to the cricket club by Daneshill School.

Harrison said: “These are exciting times. We are a thriving club playing good quality cricket from juniors to seniors and at the same time boasting an active social section with events throughout the year.

Following an internal review, the club have appointed their first ever director of cricket in Jonathan Rowe.

He is a long standing respected member and player at the club and his task is to bring together all the cricketing aspects of the club to ensure continuity and at all levels.

Hartley have also appointed Rob Cooke as the club coach. Cooke is a ECB level 3 coach and his appointment is critical to the club’s re focus on improving the skills of players and the quality of cricket overall.

Harrison added: “I believe that the appointments of director of cricket and club coach will positively impact on the standard of the cricket within the club.”

The village side’s first team will play in the Southern League Division Two this season under new captain Danny Plume The talented cricketer who started his playing days as a junior with the club and is the son of the Club’s Hon Secretary Terry Plume.

The top order batsman and a left arm bowler said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge of leading the team and ensuring that all those who play enjoy their cricket.”

Hartley will have a new overseas player this summer after signing Tommy Garwood from Tasmania.

He is a left handed top order batsman, who can also bowl and is a great prospect having played Grade Cricket in Australia and is also a qualified coach.

The village side’s other two teams on a Saturday play in the Hampshire League.

Once again this year Hartley will be hosting a Hampshire Cricket Club benefit game for Shaun Ervine and it will take place on August 19.