HORSPATH have added to their first-team squad by signing Reading paceman Ian Slatcher. The 25-year-old former Berkshire seamer, who is also handy with the bat, is the second new recruit to be announced by the club following the capture of batsman James Fitzjohn from Cumnor. Slatcher was a key member of the Reading side which finished fourth in Home Counties Premier League Division 1 in 2015, taking 24 wickets at an average of 22.33, including 5-50 against High Wycombe. His season was cut short last year by a stress fracture to the right fibula after he had played just seven games, picking up nine wickets, and his fortunes were mirrored by Reading, who were relegated. However, he did show another string to his bow, making half-centuries against Great & Little Tew in the league and Teddington in the National Club Championship after being moved up the order. And now fully recovered, he is looking forward to a new challenge with Will Eason's side. Slatcher, who lives at East Ilsley, said: "Obviously I have played against Will and his brother (Robbie) for three or four years now, and Horspath has always been one of those stand-out clubs where you think they are a nice bunch who play hard and have a beer and a chat afterwards. "I am looking forward to getting going again, getting to know the boys and to hit the ground running. "I would say I am a bowling all-rounder. I usually batted number nine or eight for Reading, and then I got moved up the order and had a bit of success there. "I enjoy playing against really top players, who have played some really good professional cricket and to pit yourself against them is a real challenge and that gets me going." Will commented: "I have played against him two or three times and he has always done pretty well against us. "He was injured for the majority of last season, so it's probably a fresh start for him. "He is a good all-round cricketer. He's good with the new ball, moving it in the air and off the pitch. He can also chip in with runs further down the order. "He is a great addition to the squad, and we think he will enhance the competition for places and give us more strength in depth." Slatcher, a project manager for construction company Mace in London, played youth cricket and one season as an adult at Hurst in Berkshire, before moving on to Reading. He then joined Falkland for two seasons, before returning to Reading. He has played twice for Berkshire in the MCCA Trophy, taking 1-44 against Suffolk in 2011 and 2-48 against Wales a year later. Slatcher also caught the eye of Northants around that time, netting with the first team in 2010-11 and being selected for a 2nd XI game. "That was where I peaked," he joked. "It got rained off and I wasn't picked for another game." Cricket took him to Australia in 2011-12 where he played for Terrigal Matcham in the Central Coast Association. "It was fantastic - the best seven months of my life," he recalled. "They are an absolute top club and were really good to me and I still have a lot of friends there." Picture courtesy of Angela Davison
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