The 1st XI returned to the Premier Division after a two year absence and were among the early season pace setters as they showed some excellent form in the limited overs fixtures. Alan Ison was in the runs during these games, and with support from new signings Billy Gordon and Shahbaz Butt it looked like the side would be in for a successful season. However, an injury to Ison and a downturn in form during the all day games meant the side were looking over their shoulders going into the last few weeks of the season. Fortunately the return of limited overs cricket bought a return to good form and some excellent performances, including a brilliant win over South Woodford, meant the side finished comfortably in 8th place.

Shahbaz Butt and Billy Gordon (who won the Club’s Batsman of the Year Award) led the way with the bat and there were good contributions from Alan Ison, Elliot Timotie Nick O’Dell and Freddie Butt. With the ball John Curtis again led the way, with 27 league wickets, while captain Ollie Peck enjoyed a great season, and there were also good performances from Gordon, and James Aggio-Brewe. The excellent wicket-keeping of Freddie was also one of the highlights of the season.

There was also another good run to the Finals Day in the Dukes Essex League T20 competition. However, as in 2008 and 2010 the side fell at the semi-final stage, losing to a well drilled Chelmsford outfit on a chilly morning.

After a tough 2012, the 2nd XI bounced straight back to the Premier Division after a 2nd place finish………..just!!! A mixed start to the season was followed by an excellent run of results in June and July and then a jittery end to the campaign. Having failed to chase down Fives and Heronians target at Upminster Park on the final day of the season, there were 20 minutes of nervous phone calls and Twitter alerts before it was confirmed that Loughton had held on against Hainault to hand Nicky Ison’s side the second promotion spot. James Evans was in the runs yet again (495 at 33.00) and he received good support from Harry Jenkins, Junaid Sarwar and Luke Read. With the ball, a consistent four man attack did the job. Andrew Berry, Scott Fisher, Nicky Ison and Chris Ryan were all amongst the wickets and it was especially pleasing to see Ryan enjoy such a good season in the 2nd XI after bowling so well for the 3rd XI for so many years. There was also a glimpse of the club’s future potential as Ollie Heazle, Frankie Hazel and Miles Timotie put in some excellent individual performances.

The 3rd XI had a solid season and ended up in 3rd place. They are still the longest continuous serving team in the 3rd XIs top flight (2014 will be there 13th season in a row at that level)!! Pete Thompson, Will Murphy, Mike Harrison and Rob Mack were consistent with the bat, as was Frankie Hazel before moving up a side. New signing, Usman Khan, and Mark D’Cruz did the damage in the bowling department, although in the second half of the season they were well supported by Rob White and youngsters Louis Pickering and Will Chuter. The side used several youngsters during the season and enjoyed an excellent team spirit. The highlights of the season were two wins over eventual champions Wanstead. One was a convincing victory and one was a real thriller right to the end, but both games were played in an excellent spirit and were a really good avert for lower eleven cricket.

With 3 weeks to go it looked almost certain that the 4th XI would suffer relegation, but two wins and draw in those last three games meant a great escape for Stewart Hammond’s side. The captain had led the way all season with the bat as a young side scrapped to pick up as many points as possible even in their defeats and drawn games. Bowling wise, the team lacked the required consistency, with the exception of the evergreen Karim Govani, but youngsters Max Carter Miller and George Sadek both showed their potential and should push on 2014. Jono Murphy also had a good all round season and should be looking to move up the elevens over the next few years. After four seasons running the side Stewart has decided to stand down. He has done an excellent job with a young side in this time, and everyone at the Club appreciates his efforts.

The 5th XI looked a sure bet for promotion for nearly the entire season, but a loss of form, and poor availability, in the last few weeks of the season cost them a chance to play at a higher level in 2014. Along with Wanstead they broke away from the pack and at the halfway stage had opened up a gap to third place, but alas, it was not to be. Ben Langston returned to playing regular cricket and scored over 300 runs in his new role as an opening batsman. Jamie Marshall moved up from the 6th XI and did well and Jo Wyatt and Sam O’Dowd also played some good innings. Captain Billy Wright claimed 27 league scalps and Michael Jones and Kevin Roome were also amongst the wickets. Billy stood down as the 5th XI skipper at the end of the campaign and will be taking on the same job with the 4th XI for 2014.

It was a case of déjà vu for the 6th XI as they finished in the bottom two as they did in 2012, but have escaped the “drop” with other sides pulling out in the lower eleven leagues. Captain Paul Scott continues to do an excellent job running the Team and introducing many of our promising youngsters to senior league cricket. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly a maiden century for 14 year old Nathan Smith.

The 7th XI were limited to just a handful of friendly fixtures in 2013, as the Club struggled to find friendly fixtures for the team. In 2014 the side have entered the Friendly League and this, along with several players returning to the Club for 2014, should mean skipper Glen Ashby will be in for a busier season next time out.

On Sundays the 2nd XI once again competed in the East Division of the Essex Sunday League, but finished a little disappointingly in 7th place. Availability was not as good as in prior years, but Nicky Ison and Billy Wright made sure all fixtures were fulfilled and the lack of senior players available also gave more of our youngsters the chance to gain some valuable experience. The 3rd XI and Academy XI played several games between them and results were generally positive and matches generally enjoyable. The Club’s Committee have looked at the set-up of Sunday cricket for 2014 and hopefully this will have a positive effect over the next few seasons.

The colts section continues to thrive, and the addition of Freddie and Shahbaz Butt to our regular coaching team (working alongside Martin Davis) really helped to freshen things up and move things forward. The Matchplay side again performed well and moved through the group stage without losing a game. The new format of the competition meant a second set of group games, but despite an excellent win against a strong Chelmsford side, the team narrowly missed out on a place in the last four. Craig Chuter’s Under 15s side claimed the Cox and Kings Cup at the end of the season to continue their recent success and our other colts sides all performed well once again, competing not just against sides in the Havering area, but also against a number of other strong sides from further afield. The performances and vastness of the colts section is something that the Club are now rightly proud of, and everyone at the Club continues to try and ensure that as many of these young players move on to play a role in the club, on and off the field, as they move up from the colts section. None of this would happen without the work of our coaches and Team Managers who put in a lot of time and effort to ensure things run smoothly. After several years in charge of Youth Cricket, Paul Bussey stood down at the end of the 2013 season. Paul has put in a phenomenal amount of time and effort for several seasons to get the colts section into the position it is now, and everyone at the Club is appreciative of his efforts.

We were lucky to once again host a Benefit Match against the County side in September, this year in aid of David Masters Benefit Year. David has been an outstanding performer for Essex over the past eight seasons and and we were honoured to host this match. The weather was excellent yet again (we will surely run out of luck one year) and we had one of our biggest crowds ever for the event. We are grateful that the Upminster public come out every year to support this game, and also lucky to have a group of sponsors whose financial support enables this to happen. We hope to stage a similar game in 2014.

The Club also took part in the excellent Chance 2 Shine State Schools coaching scheme once again, and coach Martin Davis provided around 130 hours of coaching in local schools. This has been an excellent scheme for the Club over the last 6 years, and has helped to maintain numbers and interest in our colts section during that period.

Of course, the club is indebted to many for their voluntary work, which makes it possible for the Club to continue to progress. Chairman Gwynne Mack and House and Grounds Chairman John Sutton once again put in an amazing amount of work to make the wicket one of the best in the League, backed up by the League’s statistics in this area. On top of this they also continued to put in a lot of extra work in 2013 to bring the Club’s relatively new square at Campion School up to scratch for lower eleven league cricket. The work of Gwynne and John means this should become an excellent facility for senior and junior cricket for years to come.

The Keith Martin Club Person of the Year award was deservedly won by Club Secretary Rob Mack. Rob’s effort and enthusiasm in this role over the past five years are an example to the rest of the Club and we all hope he will continue in this job for many years to come. There were other very worthy nominees for this award proving that the Club is lucky to have so many people putting in so much time and energy.

We should also take this opportunity to thank all other volunteers who score, umpire, make the teas, help get the grounds ready, help with transport, or assist in any other way which makes cricket at Upminster take place every summer. This is especially the case these days with the number of people involved in the colts section, as it continues to grow. For a Club of our size there are to many people to mention individually, but without the efforts of these people the Club would not be what it is.

We must also thank our sponsors, the Alishan Tandoori, B F Mulley & Son Funeral Directors, Grove Road Tyres, James Read Opticians, Waitrose Upminster and Apollo 2000 (First Class Car Body Repairers) for their financial support in 2013. The generosity of these local businesses enables the Club to continue to take part in projects which benefit the Club on and off the pitch.

Everyone at the Club would like to wish all SNEL Clubs an enjoyable 2014, and we look forward to welcoming you to Upminster Park or one of our out-grounds.