With the start of the new season just 108 days away Somerset are already looking forward to a bumper year in 2002.

Just before the office at the County Ground closed for Christmas, membership secretary Jo Betsworth told me, " The number of new members who have joined is double compared to the same time last year and overall the number of members who have signed up is also ahead of where it was at the end of December 2001. It's all very pleasing, and when we open again on January 7th we expect to have several hundred more new memberships to process.

It's all very pleasing." The wonderful response to the 2002 membership campaign is no doubt due to the results on the field in 2001 when the Cidermen enjoyed their best ever season.

Not only did last season see Somerset end their eighteen year trophy famine when they won the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Lord's on September 1st, but they also achieved their best ever County Championship finish by ending up as runner's up to Yorkshire.

Certainly there is a mood of confidence amongst the players for the new season, and if their commitment to their closed season training routines is anything to go by then they will go back onto the field in 2002 even more confident and fitter than they were at the end of 2001.

All of the players have been reporting to the Academy Fitness Centre at the County Ground on a regular basis where they have been working on their own personalised training routines.

The club has also developed a fitness room away from the Academy Fitness Centre which includes several pieces of new equipment including a large number of weights, which is proving to be very popular with the players. Shortly after the start of the New Year the players will also be reporting for regular indoor nets at the School of Excellence.

With the shortest day gone, lighting up time is getting later each day, and it won't be long before the new season is with us. In the meantime everybody at Somerset County Cricket Club can feel pleased with what was achieved in 2001, and look forward with confidence to another successful season in 2002.

© SOMERSET