Eaton Socon have delivered a signal of Cambs & Hunts Premier League intent – by tempting local lad Joe Dawborn back to the club.

The prolific pace bowler has been the leading wicket-taker in the tough Northants Premier Division for Peterborough Town in each of the last four seasons.

But he is now relishing a new challenge as player-coach at his hometown club as Eaton Socon set their sights on the top three in their third campaign at Whiting & Partners Division One level.

Dawborn said: “I feel I have achieved quite a lot in my time at Peterborough, a club which I have loved playing for. This season I would like to achieve something else with my cricket - and that is to help others.

“There are a lot of youngsters at Eaton Socon who I can see have already got a lot of potential. I would like to give them the coaching support that I never had when there in the past to help them showcase their abilities.

“I would also like to help the club get to their highest playing standard and I feel like I can offer some great things to them.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone at Town who helped me with my cricket.”

Dawborn took a total of 268 wickets in his time at Peterborough. That fine tally included a 10-22 haul in a game against Brixworth back in 2015.

And chairman Rob Ashwell is convinced the 23 year-old will now be a huge asset – on and off the pitch – for Eaton Socon as the bid to better the seventh and eighth-placed finishes achieved in the last two summers.

He said: “It is a massive signing for the club. We have managed to bring back Jonny Carpenter and Matt Pateman in the last two years – and now it is great to have Joe home as well.

“Joe was our number one target this winter and massive thanks goes to Jonny and our president, Terry Day, for making it happen.

“We are putting in a structure to progress into a top-three club in the coming years. Our junior section is in a fantastic position and we have a young, but talented, group of senior players.”

Eaton Socon are also scouring for a new overseas player. South African all-rounder Dale Van Der Merwe won’t return in 2018.