A STOCKSFIELD cricketer was quick to get off the mark as he was handed his first class debut.

Gareth Wade is looking to break into the Northamptonshire County Cricket first team after signing up in the off-season, and he did his chances no harm by striking in the first class opener for the season, during a drawn three-day game Loughborough University MCCU.

While his side’s County Ground significantly favoured the batsmen and Wade went for 100 runs, he was Northants’ only seamer to take a wicket with the others all going to spin.

His first class debut is indication that the 25-year-old features in the club’s plans for the 2017 season, and he is looking to take every opportunity which comes his way.

He said: “Last year I was playing against Leadgate, and now I’m a first class cricketer so that’s a bit of a strange situation!

“It was a massive honour to represent Northamptonshire Cricket Club, and just to say I have worked so hard to get here and getting first class honours is a great acheivement. It shows how far I have come since coming through as a junior at Stocksfield all those years ago.

“It was a hard track to bowl on but I got the wicket in my second over, and that was such a good feeling as it meant I could settle down and push for another.

“Other decisions didn’t go my way and I could have had three wickets, but that’s how cricket goes.

“It was a massive relief, and the support I got from the team and the crowd down here, but mostly on social media, was amazing.”

Wade, who fittingly wore the number nine shirt, had a celebration up his sleeve too. He added: “A couple of lads down here bet me I couldn’t do the Shearer celebration, so I pulled it off when I got the wicket!”

Wade started playing his cricket at his home village club at the age of 10, but he was a late developer and it wasn’t until he was 19 that he finally broke into the first team while Alex Brown was captain.

He always showed a keen interest in cricket, though, and when he developed a dramatic growth spurt aged 17, his bowling came on leaps and bounds.

He took a gamble by joining Chester-le-Street a few years ago, and then went on to Lanchester, and the decision has paid off as he was snapped up by the County Championship Division Two side.

Wade is settling in well, and aims to keep working hard.

He said: “It’s very different here to the countryside of Stocksfield, but it’s nice and I literally live 50 yards from the ground.

“My goals are to remain level headed and get in the second team, and then push for the first team. I might get a chance to play for the firsts against Glamorgan, so I need to take wickets, bowl quickly and show the coaches what I can do.”

Members of Stocksfield Cricket Club have been following Wade’s progress closely, and they are all delighted with how well he is doing.

Chairman Chris Catnach, often regarded as Wade’s biggest influence in cricket, coached him as a youngster, and also starred alongside him too.

He said: “I remember Gareth winning the U13 player of the year award, and it’s nice to think that we put the foundations in place for him to go on to play first class cricket!

“Strangely enough, he never played for Northumberland but he shot up when he was 17 and that gave him the extra pace for his bowling.”

david.coulter@hexham-courant.co.uk