Often regarded as local cricket?s whipping boys, Young Men?s Social Club have launched a determined rebuilding programme.

The Angle Street club have picked up the valued services of fast bowler Kenny Philip and the explosive bat of Glenn Blakeney in the off-season. And although it has yet to be confirmed, other players said to be heading their way are former St.George?s and Bermuda skipper Charlie Marshall and Western Stars seamer Kevin Hurdle.

Despite their dismal recent past, Social Club can point to some proud cricket history.

They were the first-ever holders of the Central Counties championship, though their success owed much to good fortune.

Social Club and Devonshire Recreation Club drew the inaugural match in 1968 at the former National Sports Club, and the former hoisted the cup by virtue of being the first name drawn out of the hat.

?There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes with the team and we have a very nice little thing going. We are just trying to put the club back to where it used to be many, many moons ago,? said club secretary Dennis Hart.

?The first thing Social Club were noted for was cricket and then the football team of the 1960s came along and I guess from that point onwards we have forever been tied in with football.

?But Social Club have a lot of cricket history. Over the past few years we have had a lot of young players coming in and out of the team playing cricket. We haven?t really had any proper guidance in terms of coaching but we decided it was time for us to see what we can do and the players themselves basically helped to put a programme together.?

Hart and fellow executives at the club have also played their part in helping to raise Social Club?s cricket from the ashes.

?We?ve always tried to invest in our team but the players need to be given credit because they decided that this is something they want to take very seriously and the club graciously decided to get behind them and push them along. We are giving the guys the backing and are willing to invest in them,? Hart added.

As for the arrivals of Blakeney and Philip, the executive said: ? It gives us not only one of the best all-round cricketers in the country in Glenn (Blakeney), but also a proven bowler in Kenny (Philip). We haven?t had much in terms of a strike bowler for many years. But now we have a proven strike bowler and this can only help the younger players already at the club. Kenny?s experience will certainly help them and, of course, Glenn?s ability will be a plus.?

Another incentive for the club?s aspiring players is next month?s tour of Antigua, where Social Club players will take part in pre-season training and also receive the opportunity to watch the final England-West Indies Test match.

?We have provided the players with the tools they need, now hopefully people will be talking about the club in a different manner from hereon in,? added Hart.