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Season Reviews
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  3. 2021
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2021
Season Reviews 3 of 16

3. 2021

JANUARY

- The third National lockdown of the pandemic means no indoor games and no winter training during January;
- The 162nd AGM, originally due to take place in December 2020, is held on 24th January. In a first for the club the meeting takes place via Zoom due to the restrictions;
- The Windmill Walk is launched. The Walk was aimed at keeping members and friends of the club fit and active during the lockdown and saw more than 200 people sign up to take part;

FEBRUARY

- The lockdown continues and cricket action remains on hold. The club, and the leagues it plays in, began to look at contingency for the 2021 season (which thankfully wasn’t needed);
- The Windmill Walk continues and the month ends with Derek Petrie topping the individual leaderboard for most steps completed and the Kushoom Bugh Tigers leading the team table;

MARCH

- Excitement builds ahead of the 2021 season as the club signs a new deal with kit supplier Surridge and a new line of kit is launched for the campaign ahead;
- Groundsman Mark Severn continues his pre-season work at Upminster Park and at the club’s outgrounds, with all three squares looking in excellent condition;
- The Kushoom Bugh Tigers and Derek Petrie continue to lead the way as the Windmill Walk passes the halfway mark. 41 participants pass the one million step mark since the event was launched in January;

APRIL

- The relaxing of some restrictions means CRICKET IS BACK!! Our junior players use the Easter Holidays to catch up on missed winter sessions, taking part in training at the club, led by Coach Simmons;
- After worries that the season wouldn’t begin on time, it was a relief to all as the 1st and 2nd XI travel to face their Brentwood counterparts on the 10th April. Both sides were defeated, and most players ended up with frostbite, but it was great to see cricket being played again;
- The second weekend of friendly games saw four centuries for Upminster players!! Kiran Kullar, Stu Connor, Tom Daniels and Steve Wright all make three figures in games against Orsett and Thurrock;
- The 1st XI overcome local rivals Gidea Park and Romford in the League Cup……..but exit at the second round stage a week later as Hornchurch win the derby at Upminster Park;
- The Ladies XI return to competitive action after a long break, and they cause a huge shock in the National Cup 1st Round as they overcome Wanstead and Snaresbrook at Upminster Park;
- The first colts games (of a programme of around 200 fixtures) take place with friendlies and competitive matches across all age groups;
- The Windmill Walk nears its conclusion, with John Woods closing in on the individual crown and the Ace Avengers leading the race for the team title;

MAY

- The Ladies XI’s run in the National Cup comes to an end as they are beaten by Binfield in the second round of the competition;
- The Hamro Foundation Essex League season begins with wins for the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 6th XIs;
- Windmill Whack VI and the Windmill Whack Women’s Edition II get underway at Upminster Park. In the men’s event the Govani Maestros beat the Kushoom Bugh Tigers while in the women’s competition the Apple Phoenix overcame the Ace Avengers;
- The latest edition of the Club’s newsletter, U’s News is released and made available to members and supporters of the club;
- The Windmill Walk concludes after 18 weeks of action!! John Woods beat Derek Petrie to take the individual honours while the Ace Avengers hold off the Chairman’s Choice in the team competition.
- The 2nd XI beat South Woodford at Upminster Park to make it four league wins from four during May. Their latest win includes a brilliant ton from Callum Berry;

JUNE

- The 1st XI lose out to Fives and Heronians in a 600 run thriller at Upminster Park, despite a ton from James Evans. The win sees Fives take over from Upminster at the top of the Division One table;
- Upminster exit the Conference Cup after a defeat to Surrey Premier League high-fliers Reigate Priory on a sweltering afternoon at Upminster Park;
- The 2nd XI reach the end of June with their 100% still intact. They made it eight wins from eight to stay on track for a perfect season;
- The 1st XI make their first appearance in the Essex T20 Smash, a new competition organised by Rainham CC. Upminster win their first contest by 25 runs against Old Brentwoods. They follow this up a week later with a victory at Stanford Le Hope;
- By the end of the month our colts sides had completed more than 70 fixtures against other clubs, with more than 150 boys and girls having represented the club in these games;

JULY

- 102 from 57 balls from Ehsan Afzal helps Upminster pile up 200-5 in their Sunday League T20 Cup Semi Final against Roding Valley. The innings helps Upminster to a 46 run win and a place in the Final against Waltham;
- The 4th XI produce one of the performances of the season to beat table toppers Chelmsford 3rd XI at Chelmer Park;
- The miserable weather continues to play havoc with the Windmill Whack schedules. Organisers put in place contingency plans to try and get all fixtures played;
- The club is sold out, within Covid guidelines, for England’s knockout games in the European Championships. It all of course ends in heartache once again!!
- Youngster Gus Siggins makes a brilliant half century for the 3rd XI as they dig themselves out of trouble to beat Hornchurch in the local derby and stay in contention for the Premier Division title;
- Week 12 of the league season and the 2nd XI’s winning run is finally brought to an end. Despite being on top throughout Upminster can’t take the final wicket and Gidea Park and Romford cling on for a draw to frustrate Upminster;
- The colts season continued with more than 100 games now played. All of our boys and girls sides remain in contention for end of season honours;

AUGUST

- Centuries from youngsters Ellis Pickering and Callum Berry help the Sunday League XI to a convincing win over Stallions;
- The 1st XI lose out to fellow struglgers Old Southendians to leave them looking over their shoulders at the wrong end of the Division One table;
- It may only have been mid August but the 2nd XI’s win over Hutton sees them secure promotion back to the Premier Division;
- The Sunday League T20 side see of Waltham in the Sunday League T20 Final to pick up the club’s first silverware of the season;
- In the Essex T20 Smash Upminster see of Goresbrook in the Quarter Final to take their place at Finals Day;
- The U19s bow out of the Essex U19s T20 after suffering a narrow six run loss against Wanstead and Snaresbrook;
- The Ladies Softball Squad take part in the Essex Women’s Softball Series throughout the month. Upminster topped their group with eight wins, three losses and a tie, but most importantly everyone enjoyed this new event;
- After a frantic catch up to complete all of the group games, the Finals Day line up for the Windmill Whack was confirmed. In the men’s event the Chairman’s Choice topped the group and will face either the Govani Maestros or the Apple Finance Firebirds, while in the women’s event it will be a repeat of the 2020 Final as the Apple Finance Phoenix will take on Burley’s Bandits;

SEPTEMBER

- The Hamro Foundation Essex League programme concludes for 2021, with the 1st XI eventually finishing the season in eighth while the 2nd XI remain unbeaten and cruise to their Division One title;
- There are mid-table finishes for the 3rd, 4th and 5th XI’s while the 6th XI end their first season back in the league with a win over Hutton thanks to a fine century from Mathew Ingleson;
- There is heartache for the U9s and U11s at the Central Board Finals Day, as both sides miss out in thrilling cup finals against Chelmsford and Brentwood respectively. There is some consolation for the U9s who were presented with two league winning trophies during the day. There were also Central League honours for the U10s, U13s and Girls U12s;
- The sun finally came out for Windmill Whack Finals Day. In the men’s event the Apple Finance Firbirds, led by Tom Daniels, overcome the Govani Maestros in the play-off and then the Chairman’s Choice in the Final to claim the trophy for the first time;
- In the women’s Final the Apple Finance Phoenix retain their crown with victory over Burley’s Bandits. It means it’s a double for franchise owner Kevin Heazle who has supported the competition since it’s first year;
- Another cup final day for the U9s sees them claim one trophy and miss out on another as they win the Don Coates Trophy but miss out in the Freddie Goldman Trophy;
- It crowns an amazing season for the colts section with more than 250 young players signing up with the club, over 200 games taking place and an amazing 6 trophies and 5 runners-up spots claimed;
- Finals Day at the Essex T20 Smash doesn’t go to plan as Upminster lose out to Epping in the semi-finals;
- There is no rest for our junior sides as winter training begins at the newly opened Club Cricket Academy in Ockendon. Coach Simmons leads the sessions with assistance from Essex stars Adam Wheater and Aaron Beard;

OCTOBER

- The Upminster CC Golf Day takes place at Upminster GC and Vice-President Nigel Emes takes the honours;
- The Dinner and Dance returns after a year’s break due to the pandemic, and Elaine Brown organises a brilliant night with more than 120 in attendance;
- At the event Club Chairman Ollie Peck is made a Life Vice-President of the club to recognise more than 28 years of outstanding service to the club on and off the pitch;
- Graeme Lawes is named as winner of the Keith Martin Club Member of the Year award after his work with the 7th XI during the season. Vicki Waters, Angela Green and Rob Mack are also nominated;
- Ehsan Afzal takes the President’s Batsman of the Year award, Nicky Ison claims the Colin Hart Bowler of the Year trophy and Mitan Shah is named as Fielder of the Year;
- Gus Siggins is named as the John Nash Colt of the Year winner while it was the unbeaten 2nd XI who were presented with the John Dean Team of the Year award;
- Indoor League cricket returns for both juniors and seniors. In the Riverside League (senior league) the Hunters and Tandoori Boys both make disappointing starts to the season;
- In the newly launched Havering Indoor League (junior league) the club enter 10 sides, many of whom make an excellent start to the campaign. Four of our junior sides also start their seasons in the Central Essex Indoor League;

NOVEMBER

- The Tandoori Boys remain without a win in the Riverside Indoor League but the Hunters pick up two wins to move into title contention;
- Everyone at the club is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of former Chairman Gwynne Mack. Gwynne played a huge role in shaping the club into what it is today and will be missed by everyone at the club;

DECEMBER

- The Hunters title chances in the Riverside Indoor League are dealt a blow as Covid cases amongst the squad mean their game with Springfield has to be conceded;
- After a year off due to the pandemic, the UCC Curry Lunch takes place again at the Kushoom Bugh Tandoori Restauarant;
- During the afternoon the individual team player of the season awards were presented. Nehal Butt took the 1st XI honours, veteran Terry Wyatt claimed the 2nd XI award, Dan Simpson was the 3rd XI winner, Will Bottoms scooped the 4th XI trophy, Mark Hortop was the 5th XI star man, Nathan French was the 6th XI winner and the Sunday League XI award went to Callum Berry;