In-form batsman Luke Hollingworth reckons that Spalding Town are a club on the up.
Hollingworth is the third-highest run scorer for Town’s top team this term, with only Warren Nel (312) and Ben Smith (206) bettering his tally of 187 from nine outings.
Although the ex-Billingborough and Sleaford ace is part of a side that currently sits bottom of the Lincs ECB Premier League table, he admits that he’s very much enjoying his first campaign with the club.
Victories over Sleaford and Skegness in recent weeks have offered a glimpse of what Spalding are capable of – and Hollingworth chipped in with scores of 40 and 53 in those matches.
He reckons that there’s plenty for Town to be excited about moving forward and highlighted the club’s talented youngsters as one of many reasons for optimism.
Hollingworth said: “I am really enjoying my season so far. Although we have had a difficult start, there are a lot of positive things going for the club and it’s nice to be a part of it.
“I had previously played with Rob Ambrose and Warren Nel, but the rest of the lads have been top drawer.
“They are all very passionate about the club and there is a willingness to be successful running throughout the club.
“That should be a given – but isn’t always the case in all sports clubs.
“Individually, I’m happy with how things are going.
“I don’t really set myself any targets because I don’t know how many games I will play in a season due to football and family commitments.
“I’ve never really been too bothered by individual targets anyway, it’s a team game and I tend to bat for the team.
“As long as I make contributions in a winning team I’m happy – especially if it’s against Sleaford!
“I’ve been impressed with the whole club, led by Rob who cares so much and took the bull by the horns leading from the front in the last few weeks.
“Some of the young lads have been very impressive too and have shown real potential. The club is going in the right direction and is being run the right way.”
Although he’s been impressed with the club, Hollingworth does feel that Town’s top team aren’t in a false position in the league.
He’s not too worried by their return of just two wins from nine games, but does feel they’ve let themselves down with a number of disappointing defeats that could easily have been avoided.
“At this stage of the season I’m not worried about our league position,” added the batsman. “There is a lot of talent in our team and some real match winners.
“We have put in some decent performances of late and are starting to play towards and deliver our game plan. We have to be honest, though. At present, we deserve to be bottom.
“We have lost too many games we shouldn’t have and have shown little consistency in our performances.
“We knew June was going to be a big month for us on the back of the Sleaford win and it’s started well.”
Having seen last weekend’s derby with Bourne rained off, this Saturday sees Town play host to fellow strugglers Grimsby Town at Spalding Grammar School (noon).
Victory would almost certainly see Hollingworth and his side climb off the foot of the standings, but the number four admits that games against relegation rivals have been Spalding’s Achilles heel this term.
The best example of that was a humbling 257-run home defeat to Grantham, but Hollingworth – who misses Saturday’s showdown – is confident his team-mates will be victorious this time.
He added: “Unfortunately I miss this Saturday’s game, but it’s a massive one for the boys. We have been slightly complacent in games that we felt, on paper, we should be winning and have come unstuck.
“Grimsby have had a couple of good results so far and will be dangerous, but we need to stick to our game plan and do our basics well.
“If we do that, I’m confident we will come away with the win.”
Whatever happens to Town this season, they’ll have to finish things off without Hollingworth.
That’s because of his footballing commitments with UCL Premier Division side Sleaford Town.
Formerly of Holbeach United, Hollingworth is one of a very small group of players that compete in the Lincs ECB Premier League and the UCL.
That statistic doesn’t surprise him, as seasonal overlap is one of his major bugbears.
He said: “I’m playing football at Sleaford Town again this year.
“Both leagues are a very good standard, but I’m not surprised more don’t play both sports.
“I only manage about half a cricket season because of football, the overlap is just too much.
“It’s very frustrating, as I would love to play a full season in both sports – but unfortunately that is not possible.
“At this level the people running clubs like their players to commit to a full season and I have played with only a handful of people who play both.”
Hollingworth is joined on the sideline by fast bowler Charlie Kearns this weekend, but Henry Charlton is primed for his first outing of the season.
