Former Bristol & North Somerset outfit Stoke Bishop believe 2009 could be the year they rediscover some of their former glory.

Five years ago, Stoke Bishop were plying their trade in the West of England Premier League. But three successive relegations saw them drop to Division II of the Bristol & District League.

This is their third year at that level but a good start this summer – after finishing third last term – has left skipper Richard Waller believing that Stoke Bishop could be celebrating promotion in September.

"We have been using the last few seasons to rebuild," he said. "Last year, we finished third and narrowly missed out on promotion.

"This summer, we hope to build on that and go up.We have signed quite a few players and seem to be getting better.

"We also have a stronger second team, who are playing some good cricket in their league. All of us – either through work or social groups – have made an effort to bring in new players.

"I would like to think we've attracted 10-15 newcomers over the last 18 months and they are all good additions to the club.

"In the past couple of years, we have struggled to put out a second team but there are no problems on that score now, so as a club, we are heading back in the right direction."

Stoke Bishop, who lost their first four matches last year, are in second place, behind leaders Stothert & Pitt, going into tomorrow's game at Bitton. And they boast another big advantage in the shape of Dan Watkins, who is one of the in-form batsmen in the Bristol & District League.

Watkins, who smacked 84 in a pres-season friendly against Tormarton, hit 75 out of a total of 160 in Stoke Bishop's four-wicket defeat by Carsons & Mangotsfield on the opening day of the season.

The 25-year-old, who bats at No 3 and keeps wicket, followed that up with an unbeaten 116 as Stoke Bishop rattled up 188-1 in a nine-wicket victory over Patchway. And he almost made it back-to-back centuries in the following game against Lodway, hitting 99 out of 203-4 in a 56-run win.

So prolific has he been, Watkins is close to passing the 339 runs he hit in the whole of last year's league campaign after just three matches this term.

"Dan has dominated with the bat," said Waller. "He is in cracking form. In the last couple of years he has been able to dedicate more time to playing and is now building on last season's efforts.

"Batsmen just find form and Dan is a gifted player. He is a key member of our team."

Watkins left his team-mates shocked by suffering a first-ball duck in the Bristol & District Cup preliminary round tie against Portishead – but Stoke Bishop still won by seven wickets.

Chasing 135 in a match that had been reduced to 16 overs, Waller's 53 proved crucial after Watkins had , for once, missed out.

Waller added: "Dan hasbeen hitting shots out of the grounds this summer. When he was out first ball we were sitting in the pavilion thinking 'what are we going to do now!'"