Somerset Bridge Recreation Club have bolstered their ranks with the signing of all-rounder Joshua Gilbert for the upcoming season.

Gilbert has joined from neighbours Somerset Cricket Club and is believed to be the first of a number of young players on their way to the First Division club.

“He’s a good acquisition and hopefully we can bring the best out of him,” Winston Reid, the Somerset Bridge coach, said.

Gilbert adds potency and depth to Bridge’s batting and bowling, as well as a wealth of experience having played for Bermuda and Somerset in Cup Match. He also has previous experience playing under Reid when the pair of them were at Somerset Cricket Club.

Reid is hoping that the acquisition of Gilbert and potentially others will help his team achieve their objectives during the upcoming season.

“The guys played some good cricket last year and we had a chance of even getting promoted, but we blew it,” he said.

“We are hoping that this year, with the acquisition of one or two younger players, we can give a better account of ourselves.”

Reid, a former Somerset and Bermuda opening batsman, has urged his players to try and emulate the club’s football team, which clinched promotion last weekend with games to spare.

“The fact that the football team are promoted is good and I congratulate the players, coach and everybody,” Reid said. “Hopefully, we can feed off of that and go a step farther.

“I know we can do it. We have a good group of youngsters, a good group of people around, a good group of management and the club is moving forward.”