PORTLAND’S James Chapple won’t be getting much of a break from cricket in 2023, with the former Portland Colts wicketkeeper signing with UK club Wakefield St Michael’s for their upcoming season.

The club is situated just outside Leeds, with their first and second XI playing in division three of the Bradford Premier League, one of the most highly-touted amateur competitions in the country.

Chapple, who played his juniors at Colts along with the early part of his senior cricket, before moving to Melbourne to pursue a higher standard of the sport, said he expects it to be a great opportunity for him.

“I’m pumped for it, it’s really exciting and to be honest I just can’t wait to get started,” he said.

As for how the opportunity came about, Chapple said it was a continuation of his time with Essendon Cricket Club in the 2022-23 season, where he played mostly in the Third XI.

“One of the guys down at Essendon, Brendan McArdle, has a bunch of contacts with clubs over there as he’s been over there a bunch of times… he put me on to this club and we went from there,” he said.

“I had been planning on heading to the UK in 2020 as well (he had signed on to play with Oswaldtwistle Immanuel Church Cricket Club), but obviously with COVID getting in the way I missed out… the borders were shut a week before I was due to fly out.”

Chapple said his number one priority while he’s over there is to compete for team success, something which has been missing from his cricket experience in recent times.

“The club just got relegated after last season, so hopefully I can come in and contribute to winning a premiership and us getting promoted again,” he said.

“I was only able to be part of one win last season with Essendon, turning that around would be great.”

On an individual level, Chapple impressed during his time with Essendon, so much so that he earned selection to their First XI, but unfortunately it was a selection he never got a chance to capitalise on.

“I had a bit of a mishap returning from Queensland on the day I was meant to play in the ones so I missed out on that occasion, and then the next week I was picked again but we were washed out,” he said.

“I was able to play a few games in the twos so that was great, but hopefully this coming season pans out a little better.”

Chapple said he plans to spend his non-playing time working with the club, as well as making the most of the Ashes series being hosted in England while he’s over there.

“I’ll be working as a groundsman with the club while I’m over there, getting on the roller and doing some work with them,” he said.

“I’ve already booked tickets for the Ashes so I’m looking forward to that… should be a great experience all around.”

Chapple is flying out to the UK in the coming days, with their season set to get underway on April 15 with a fixture against Crossbank Methodists.