Epsom Cricket Club’s Danny Secchi is starting his 15th season at the helm, and he believes this season’s team could be the best yet.

After a debut season in Division Two of the Surrey Championships, Epsom have recruited and promoted from within in an effort to take the next step on the ladder.

And Secchi firmly believes the club’s inclusive ethos will stand them in good stead.

There is no them and us between the first, second and even third strings, because it is all about strength in depth. Secchi said: “At the moment we’re looking strong, we’re training twice a week and we’ve had a good recruitment drive.

“But a lot of the colts are coming through, these are the ones I was coaching 10 years ago, and now I am picking them and playing cricket with them every week, it’s fantastic.

“The players we have brought in will either strengthen the ones or the twos. If people come to us and start saying they want to do this or that, they get sent elsewhere.

“This team can be as good as any of the ones I’ve skippered over the past 14 years.

“The proof of the pudding will be at the end of the season, but we are in good health on paper.”

He added: “At the moment we’re looking strong, but what the picture will be in May or June when all the weddings and holidays start – who knows?

“That’s why it is important to have that strength in depth, and why it’s important the guys will play in the ones or twos.

“You don’t want divisions between the sides, you want to mix as much as you can.”

After promotion to Division Two in 2013, Epsom only missed out on reaching Division One by two points – losing out to Chipstead and champions Ashtead.

And Secchi know this season is going to be just as tight, although he has a way of dealing with the pressure.

He said: “Old Rutlishians will be strong, so will Esher, Chessington and Worcester Park.

“It’s a really tight league, and is very difficult to predict other teams’ results because missing one or two players on either side can mean the result could go either way.

“It’s probably one of the tightest leagues I can remember – all we can do is focus on your us, how we play and go from there.”

Epsom host Esher tomorrow in the league opener.