Former Welwyn man relishing fresh start

CRICKET: HARPENDEN new-boy Simon White says he is relishing the prospect of a new challenge.

The all-rounder swapped Welwyn Garden City for Harpenden Common this winter after a number of seasons with Harpenden’s rivals and White says the prospect of a new challenge was the main attraction for the winter transfer.

“I’d been at St Albans for a number of years and then at Welwyn and I was just looking for a new challenge,” White told the Herts Advertiser.

“I’ve played with both Ben (Frazer) and Nick (Lamb) for quite a few years now over at Welwyn and with Hertfordshire so I’m looking forward to playing with them at club level.”

White says the opportunity to help pass on his experience to the club’s youngsters was also a big factor in attracting him to the club.

“It’s an exciting time here, I think we’ve got a very good team with a lot of youngsters who have shown a lot of promise,” he said.

“That was also one of the reasons I came here to try and help develop the youngsters well. Both Nick and Ben said we had a good basis of a young team here so there’s plenty of potential to build on. It should be a good year and hopefully the guys can build on their experiences last year and really push on.”

Harpenden will face both Radlett and Welwyn Garden City in HCPL Division One this season and White is keen for the club to gain the bragging rights, especially at his former stomping ground Welwyn.

“Especially at Welwyn,” White responded when asked if he’d be looking to get one over his former club.

“I’ve still got a lot of friends over there. I know it will be a hard game, they’ve still got a strong side but with the guys I’ve seen here we’ve got every chance.”