The Academy kick of their 2013 campaign tomorrow with a Notts Premier League away game at Welbeck Colliery.
After a second-place finish in 2012, captain Andrew Parkin-Coates is looking for more of the same this time around.
“I would be lying if we weren’t thinking about trying to go one further but that is not what the academy is solely about,” Andrew said.
“A realistic aim is for the top five and anything above that is a bonus.”
Coming into the season the Academy are well placed after their pre-season tour of Antigua.
“We had a good tour over there with every member of the party getting a good bat and bowl,” he said.
“That was followed by the game that we had last week against Farnsfield where a number of the guys did well.
“Tom Rowe played well for his hundred, Sam Kelsall reached fifty and it was good workout for all the lads to accustom to English conditions.”
The squad this year contains three professionals in Sam Wood, Kelsall and Brett Hutton and Andrew thinks this can only add to the quality of the squad.
“Those three will be looking to impress but we have plenty of other players that could have a good season,” he said.
“Adam Tillcock scored a hundred for the Second Eleven recently and we have also got a left-armer from Cuckney called Luke Wood who I think will go well.”
With the loss of Jake Ball to Welbeck and bereft of the runs provided by Scott Elstone, this quality in depth is crucial.
“Having lost those boys it is crucial that everyone steps up and performs well throughout the upcoming season.”
The first chance for many of them to show what they are worth will be in the first game which kicks off tomorrow.
Academy team to play Welbeck Colliery: Andrew Parkin-Coates (c), Sam Kelsall, Hasan Azad, Tom Rowe, Sam Wood, Brett Hutton, Adam Tillcock, Luke Wood, George Bacon, Ben Kitt and Tiger Dalby