Copdock & Old Ipswichian.CC Ready For Step Up To Top Flight   You are here: Home » News Detail

Copdock & Old Ipswichian's ground

For the first time in their history, Copdock & Old Ipswichian.CC 1^st XI have achieved premier league status, and you can’t say they haven’t deserved it.

An 18 match winning streak in the league, and two play-off victories ensured the club will be competing in the East Anglian Premier League for the 2012 season.

In response to promotion to the highest division possible, the club have signed a new overseas for this season.

Namibian international Christi Viljoen has signed for the club in the hope the all-rounder can play a key role with both the ball and the bat.

The 24-year old hit 98 against England in a friendly for the ICC Combined XI in Dubai last month proving his undoubted experience at the top level.

Viljoen’s deal to the club is subject to his visa clearing and the all-rounder will be coaching cricket at a local school throughout his time in the area.

In the search for a more experienced batting line-up, the club have brought Martyn Cull back to the club from Clacton-On-Sea.CC.

Cull captained his former side in the East Anglian Premier League last season hitting over 400 runs, and the club are hoping the Suffolk minor counties player will provide lots of runs, in the hope to avoid relegation back to the Two Counties Championship.  

Another player returning to the club is Ethan Wright. The promising 17-year old is joining from Bury St Edmonds.CC and is another signing with premier league experience.

The club are also hosting Suffolk.CCC v Lincolnshire.CCC in a minor counties cup match this year which is a testament to the hard work of groundsmen David Shorten and Martin Taylor.

Corporate packages will be available on match day, with a variety of entertainment happening throughout the day.

With two or three Copdock & Old Ipswichian players likely to take the field for Suffolk, the locals are likely to come out in numbers to support their county in what will be a momentous day for the club.

The east Suffolk club turned down the chance to join the East Anglian Premier League in 2010, with the view that their younger players were not ready, so 2012 is certainly a big year for the club.

Copdock & Old Ipswichian start their 2012 campaign with tough away trip to Bury St Edmonds on Saturday 21^st April.