SEAN Hooper says he wants to get Falmouth Cricket Club's new signing Christian Purchase playing professionally again.

The all-rounder has agreed to play for the Trescobeas Road-based club on an amateur basis in 2015 after spending last year at fellow Cornwall Cricket Premier League club Grampound Road, where he was signed on a pro contract.

During the 2014 season, Purchase was the leading run scorer for the Cornish county side hitting 509 runs in nine appearances.

Talking to the Packet, Hooper said the 21-year-old will be a real boost to have at the club, although the plan is to get him playing professionally again.

Hooper said: “For me, the most important thing to do was maximise the playing talent we already have here with players like Steffan Churcher, Anthony Angove and Kieran Rodda coming through the ranks.

“But Christian will be a major signing for us because without question he is a game changer, both with the bat and ball.

“The ultimate plan for him is to get Christian playing professional cricket again and we’ll be working with him and hopefully he can get a contract somewhere for the summer.

“If he doesn’t though, he will be a great addition to Falmouth’s squad and I think coming in as an amateur will take the pressure off his shoulders.”

Purchase was a key figure in the Cornwall team last season.

He played nine matches in all competitions for the side and hit 509 runs, 201 more than any of his team-mates.

His highest score in the 14 innings he batted was 101 against Wales Minor Counties at Truro as the Duchy batted out for a draw.

Along with the century, he also hit three fifties and had a batting average of 36.36.

With his right arm off break bowling, Purchase picked up seven wickets for Cornwall with best figures of 5-46 against Dorset.

At Grampound Road, he played 21 matches in 2014 and scored 425 runs at an average of 21.25.

His highest score was 101 against Roche Old Boys in the Hawke Cup and hit only one half century during the season, which came against St Just.

Purchase had more success with the ball, finishing the campaign as the club’s second highest wicket taker with 31 victims.