IT is truly remarkable what a grassroots club can achieve when those involved put their minds to it.

Martinstown Cricket Club celebrated winning Dorset Division Seven (West) at the end of the 2005 season.

Now, a decade on, they find themselves preparing for life in the highest league of Dorset cricket for the first time.

This remarkable success was never an intended aim of club chairman John O’Brien.

But with Martinstown’s senior and junior sides going from strength to strength, the club really wants to flourish and enjoy their top-flight status.

“I started the club way back as one intended for fathers and sons so that we could play cricket with our children,” he told Echosport.

“And it has now developed into what it is.

“We are really delighted. The club and team have worked really hard to produce the facility that you need for Premier League cricket.

“We had already been informed by the league when we finished second last season that, with the regulations at the time, Sherborne did not qualify for the Premier League and we would be promoted.

“It was only after the league AGM that there was discussion about the formation of the Premier League, so we held back and waited to see what was decided.”

The decision was made by the Dorset Cricket Board, who recognised the development and emergence of the Ashton Farm outfit, to award them with a spot in the newly-structured 10-team division.

Commenting on their seventh promotion in 10 years to reach the pinnacle of Dorset cricket, O’Brien added: “The team are desperate to get started.

“They are all up for it and we are looking forward to the new season.

“Pretty much all the teams are quite large setups with Poole, Sherborne, Weymouth and Dorchester among others.

“We have always been seen as minnows, but sometimes minnows become larger than people think in the first place.”

Set to lead the way this summer is first XI captain Ed Nichols, who has a passion for the club where he learnt to play the game.

“I was part of the first junior intake from around 2000 and came into the adult side around 2004,” he said.

“We had a few brilliant guys on the playing side to bring in young people like myself and help us develop.

“About 10 years ago we were absolutely bottom of the pile so it has been really nice to be involved in it and to go up through the leagues with the youth set-up building at the same time.

“The final promotion is so nice for the people on the committee who have been involved the whole way through and put so many hours in.

“That’s what really makes a difference beyond everything else.

“Taking over the captaincy was a really big deal for me, so it’s nice to have some success to go with it and hopefully we can continue to move forward.”

On their chances of competing among the county’s big guns, Nichols added: “It’s hard to see a weak side in the league.

“It will be a real challenge for us to stay up and try to cement ourselves as a top-flight cricket team.”

But it is a challenge that Martinstown are well up for, and they will be even more excited for what lies in store when the fixtures are announced later in the year.

Martinstown are also looking to set up girls’ cricket teams for youngsters between the ages of under-11 and under-13.

For more information on the club and details of how to get involved, visit martinstown.play-cricket.com