The term “surprise package” doesn’t really do Rainford’s 2023 season justice.

In their first season back in the Premier Division, they finished fourth – above defending champions Wallasey, above Formby’s star-studded top order, above Southport & Birkdale’s legion of young Lancashire prospects.

It was the highest placing achieved by a newly promoted side since Leigh’s third place in 2011, and Rainford’s highest ever.

They did it all without an overseas pro, without a batter topping 500 league runs or a bowler taking more than 40 wickets, and without winning any of their first five fixtures.

As if that wasn’t enough, John Dotters’ side crowned the season by winning their first Ray Digman Trophy with a 30-run triumph at Northern – Lancashire Cup champions and one of the best limited overs sides in the country.

So calling them a “surprise package” would play down a summer which 90% of clubs would consider one of their best ever.

That doesn’t mean Dotters wasn’t surprised.

“I could sit here and say it was all part of the masterplan,” he said.

“But no, I didn’t think it would go as well as it did. 

“I said at the start of the season, you don’t want to commit yourself to go into a relegation scrap and that’s a mindset we went with from the get-go. 

“Yes, we found it difficult. Yes, we were always looking over our shoulders, even into the last three games. 

“I think there’s only two players who were playing for Rainford the only time they stayed in the Prem, in 2011 – we’ve never really had that experience.

“But we just needed to keep pushing as a group and finished strongly again, a bit like last season.”

Having lost their first two playable games, Rainford lost just two more all season after battling draws against Formby and Northern which made Dotters and his side believe they belonged in the division.

The skipper added: “They stick in the mind – we didn’t pick up a win for the first four or five games but we got those two draws against top opposition and we weren’t a million miles away from winning. It gave the lads a lot of belief.”

Dotters praised the impact of Jason Login, who topped the run charts with 475, along with Josh Procter, a seamer who wrapped up his first season at the club with a crucial 59 in the cup final. 

Off-spinner Andy Davies took 33 wickets – seven behind his skipper. “We’ve not bowled Andy as much as we have in years gone by, using him more as a wicket taker,” said Dotters.

There’s not much time to bask. Premier Division rivals have already started their recruitment for next season – Wallasey have re-signed Sumit Ruikar, presumably having turned him off an on again after an injury-hit season – and Dotters knows the challenges that lie ahead.

He said: “A big part of where we want to improve is competing on all fronts – that’s why the cup win meant a lot to all the players. We’ve had promotions, we’ve had success in the leagues, but not many of us have won a cup at adult level.

“We’re in the Lancashire Cup next season and we’ve got to improve. 

“There’s going to be two quality sides coming up from Division One in Newton-le-Willows and Birkenhead Park, and we’ve got to keep moving.

“We can’t just sit and think we finished fourth, everything will be fine and dandy next year.

“You’ve got to keep improving, because that’s what the other 11 teams will be doing.”