Tom Anders is relishing the task of breathing new life into New Brighton after a punishing relegation season.

Two wins in 22 matches tells its own story; the Rakers spent 2024 playing catch-up after some key departures, and never really looked like making it.

It means for the first time ever, they will start a season outside the Love Lane Liverpool Competition’s top flight.

But as 22-year-old Anders recognises, with a first relegation comes the opportunity to earn a first promotion.

“It was embarrassing to be a part of the first New Brighton team ever to be relegated to Division One, to be honest with you, it wasn’t a nice feeling at all,” he said, after taking over the captaincy from veteran all-rounder Martyn Evans.

“It was a very difficult year, there’s no beating around the bush. 

“We didn’t win many games and ended up rock bottom. 

“There were a few games where we could have won if we’d had maybe one or two extra players, but we can’t change it now.

“The atmosphere in the club wasn’t the greatest but we have looked to strengthen and improve. 

“We’ve put some really hard work in this winter so we hope it comes off.

“We want to rectify the mistakes we made last season and show everyone in the Liverpool Competition that we are one of the best clubs around.

“I moved to New Brighton when I was 15 and one of the main reasons was that every single team, from the 1st XI down to the 4th, were all playing Premier Division cricket. 

“We want to get back to that at all levels.”

Last season’s top performer was Sri Lankan pro left-arm spinner Damitha Silva, who made 590 league runs and took 52 wickets – 355 and 32 ahead of the next best. He will be back this year.

Joining him will be a former teammate, off-spinner Sheshan Silva, who moved to the UK a couple of years ago and is eligible as a resident player.

Anders added: “I do think that we’ve strengthened and we’re going to have a good year. 

“But we’ve never been here before, we’ve never faced most of the teams in Division One, so hopefully there’s no surprises we can’t handle.”

If one game summed up New Brighton’s 2024 for Anders, it was their home defeat against eventual champions Ormskirk in June.

Silva and fellow slow left-armer Elliot Griffiths bowled beautifully to restrict the visitors to 132, but with confidence in short supply and faced with a relentless attack, there was still only ever one likely winner.

Anders added: “We’re a bowling-heavy team and have a lot of options with the ball. 

“Bowling was never our problem last year, but batting has been an issue for the past few years. 

“I personally have put a lot of work into my batting this winter to help back up the top order. 

“I’m not expecting it to be any easier coming down a level, but I’m hoping that we can use our experience of the bowlers we faced last year and kick on.”