AFTER three seasons out of existence, Cricklade Town are coming back.

In 2013, after a 117-year history, the north Wiltshire side folded just days before the beginning of the 2013/14 Hellenic League season, with then-chairman Alisdair Ross stepping down due to personal reasons and saying that he could not find anyone to take over the running of the club.

But the manager of a Cricklade youth team put his head together with a bunch of like-minded individuals that shared the vision of bringing senior football back to the town and the Stones Lane outfit are set to be back in action next term, joining the likes of Wroughton and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Reserves in the Wiltshire Senior League.

Luke Alford, who also runs Cricklade’s U6s, will manage the new side, and is looking forward to seeing his club, who will once again play at Cricklade Leisure Centre, arise from the ashes.

“I’ve been managing the U6s for a little while and one of the things that I always noticed was that there were a lot of talented 17 or 18-year-olds that came through the age groups but then had to go elsewhere to play men’s football,” said former Shrivenham man Alford, who will be assisted by ex-Cricklade skipper Martin Swadden and Ross Pear.

“People were going off to play for Highworth or whoever, and sometimes, they just stopped playing, which wasn’t right – we want there to be some sort of progression for them.

“It’s all new people that are going to be running the club and we’re going to be playing in the Wiltshire League.

“One of the things that we’re aiming to do is get the FA Charter Standard Development Club grading – we’ve got the youth section and all of the teams in there, so bringing that all together under one club will help show how we’re looking to bring players through.”

Cricklade, who were first established in 1897, were promoted to the Hellenic League in 2005.

In their final season – the 2012/13 campaign – they finished seventh to match their best-ever final position in Hellenic Division One West.

Pre-season training starts at 7pm on Tuesday, June 28, at Cricklade Leisure Centre, and all interested players are welcome. Two friendlies against Bassett’s first team and Fairford Town have already been arranged.