BEN Heap ended the 2014 cricket season celebrating the Lancashire League title with Lowerhouse.

But he will begin this year’s campaign in the whites of Padiham having switched to the Ribblesdale League section B side as club professional.

And he wasn’t the only one to make the move.

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In tomorrow’s season opener he will line up against his former team-mate Francois Haasbroek who has joined Euxton as overseas amateur while another ex Lowerhouse colleague Joe Hawke is the new overseas amateur at Great Harwood.

And Heap is relishing his new surroundings, not to mention the chance to put one over former team-mates.

“The three of us got on really well at Lowerhouse,” said Heap who is relishing the chance to take on South African Haasbroek in tomorrow’s opener.

“He knows my game and when he first came over to Lowerhouse in 2011 he gave a me a lot of help and advice,” added Heap.

“He took me under his wing a little bit.

“He helped me kick on a lot with my game. He really helped my batting and has had a bit of an influence on my career.

“I am looking forward to playing against him.”

Heap had been part of the Lowerhouse set-up for 15 years and admits it was tough to leave the Neville Gee Recruitment Ground.

But he admits it was time for a new challenge in his cricketing career, one that he could not turn down.

“I had been there for a lot of years though and I just felt it was right for a chance to test myself in a different environment,” he added.

“I never thought I would be able to be paid to play cricket. It was my dream as a youngster.

“That Lowerhouse team was obviously very successful and hopefully we can have a bit of that at Padiham.

“I think the league is getting stronger. There are a lot of good players in there and a lot of good sides. I can’t wait to get started now.”

And Heap is optimistic that Padiham, who finished fifth last season, can make a push for promotion to Section A this time around.

He added: “I am very excited to be at Padiham. I think we have a really good set of players and a chance to get promoted from Section B this year.”

The trip to Euxton is a tricky start to the season for Heap and company with the home side having made a number of signings ahead of the new season having finished 2014 in fourth place, just missing out on promotion.

Heap added: “I don’t really know too much about Euxton, I am going to do a bit of reading up on them between now and the game.”