Welcome to Cider Press on CounterPress

I first gave journalism a shot during lockdown (the original, 2020 version) but quickly realised that I was a decade, maybe even two, too late to properly get my teeth into county cricket coverage.

I heard tales from the few remaining active scribblers of packed press boxes, of national titles carrying reports from half a dozen or more County Championship games, of feasts and of fun.

But those days are gone. They are never coming back.

I've more chance of making a One Day Cup century myself than of getting anything published in print about the competition now. That makes me sad and I know it makes a lot of you sad, too.

However, that doesn't mean the love for the domestic game has gone. The fire still burns bright in many but it does need to find a home, somewhere for all that fuzzy warmth to be contained.

If that isn't done soon, all the coverage will disappear and that will be that.

Cider Press, along with a dozen or more other cricketing websites recently established under the CounterPressed umbrella, aims to provide that.

The hope is that you will get the most in-depth Somerset cricket coverage out there.

We won't break news or re-produce the stuff that is already available. Instead, we will find the different angles, peek behind the scenes, look back at history. We will carry features, interviews, deep dives and columns.

The journey is only just beginning and, being frank, how we will look in 3 months' time is an unknown. But there would be no fun in certainty, right? The plan is simply to evolve and grow.

Think of this as our rookie year; we are on a summer contract and have a point to prove.

Now for the really good news - plenty of other Somerset lovers are joining in, too.

This summer, you'll read the thoughts of the great Vic Marks, of Annie Chave, of Charlie Taylor.

Harry Everett, the most famous man at the CACG, is bringing his enthusiasm, knowledge and quality along for the ride.

Kit Harris, he of Wisden Almanac editorial fame, is going to peek into the past.

Women's skipper Sophie Luff is going to keep us in the present with a monthly column, as will a member of the men's first team squad - keep your eyes peeled for the announcement later in the week.

Now to the awkward bit. Money. Look, we'd love to bring you all of this for free, but to make it sustainable, we need a little help. Your help.

Hopefully, at a monthly price that is less than the cost of a pint or a service station coffee, we will provide value.

If that isn't for you, though, I completely understand.

Sam