Stoke Newington’s first team are celebrating their second successive promotion after being crowned champions of the Middlesex Championship third division, writes Ben Grounds.

There has been a steady upwards trajectory since the side won the North East London Cricket League in 2013 – and the squad (pictured) is certainly not finished yet.

Opening batsman Simon Hore told the Gazette: “Winning the league again is a major step towards the club’s ambitions. We need to win two more divisions to be where we want to be.

“We have four kids in the Middlesex county squads – Mohan Shroff (Under-12s), Zayd Gajia (Under-15s), Wilhelmina Hornero and Kiah Martin (Under-13s girls).

“Middlesex expects, quite rightly, these players to be in their highest leagues. As a new club of only 17 years we are making great progress.”

Stoke Newington are renowned for giving youngsters the perfect platform on which to flourish, and 16-year-old Hufeiza Hafezi has come through the youth ranks to cement a first-team place.

Tom Holden, only 13, has become a regular wicket-taker as one of the first-team spinners, while captain Scott Doody led the run-scoring with 512 runs at an average of 42.6, with K Zazai supporting him with 295 at an average of 26.8.

In the bowling department, Zabehulah Mohammad blew most batting attacks away with 38 wickets at an average of 13.4, with best figures of 8-16, ably supported by Riyad Sattaur (6-21), Irfan Mohmand (5-35) and Abul Kasim Nalla (8-39) on other occasions.

Doody said: “It’s a pleasure for me and a few of the other older boys to see our talented youngsters come through and, as an adult section, we are looking to integrate as many of them into men’s cricket as we can, as quickly as possible. However, we would like to attract more mature players, particularly batsmen.

“Hackney and surrounding areas have an abundance of young professionals who have played cricket at other clubs and at university and we would like to attract those players to be a part of our journey, because there is no doubt that in a few years we will be pushing to get into the county leagues.”

Next season, the club will be fielding a third XI, adding to their reputation as Hackney’s largest cricket club.

Two hundred children from the age of five upwards are being trained every weekend, and adult sessions will start after Christmas.

The club have three grass pitches and five astroturf surfaces, and a new pavilion complete with the borough’s only nets will be open from 2018. For more details on joining Stoke Newington Cricket Club, visit www.stokenewingtoncricketclub.com