Liverpool were last in the top flight in 1999 – before the ECB Premier League era, before the three-division era… before most of their players, including rookie skipper Jared Clein, were born.

Now they know a win against Spring View, or a washout, will secure promotion to the Premier Division.

An outsider might expect a club which shares a name with the league to be one of its leading lights, but that has not been the case since 1981, when Liverpool won the last of their six titles.

Since earning promotion to Division One in 2019 they have on a couple of occasions flown out of the blocks then faded as the summer wore on.

Now Clein believes the class of 2025 have shown the power of togetherness.

He added: “I think the main thing for me is that it’s literally just been a group of mates playing cricket on a Saturday.

“We’re enjoying spending our Saturdays with each other and I think we do it for each other more than for ourselves.

“We all want to see each other doing well and I think that plays a big part, especially in a long season with a lot of ups and downs.

“I’ve really enjoyed being captain – it’s been tough but it’s good fun.

“And it’s made easier by having such a good group of lads.”

Saturday’s opponents were the runaway leaders in the first half of the season, but the WIgan side surrendered the lead to Liverpool in mid-July and since then have won just two of their last seven games. 

Their drop-off has enabled Orrell Red Triangle to sneak into second place – if Orrell win at Maghull on Saturday and View lose, the promotion race will be over. 

But Liverpool themselves have fumbled a couple of chances, losing their last two games to Old Xaverians and Lytham, and there may yet be time for another twist.

“No-one’s ever pulled away,” said Clein. 

“We’ve had a couple of chances recently and we haven’t quite got over the line – it’s been a great battle.”

Clein’s squad this year was bolstered by former Leigh all-rounder Finn Hulbert, who along with ex-Ormskirk batters Rob and Alex Rankin brought a bit of top-flight experience to the cause.

But the skipper was quick to pay tribute to a few of the less well-known names such as tall seamer Adam Stringer and all-rounder Dan Harrison.

Clein added: “I think everyone’s taken responsibility when they’ve come into the team.

“You look at lads like Stringer who’s had a really good season, probably his breakout year – he’d never had a five-wicket until he got seven against Highfield, then he got five the next week.

“Dan has almost scored 500 runs and he’s taken 30+ wickets – everyone’s chipped in.

“It’s been a big team effort.”