So as we enjoy the Autumnal months before the onset of winter, we can reflect back on the 2015 season and whilst there is no 'silverware' to celebrate across the senior sides, there has definitely been progression throughout the club, and things bode well for a successful future.

Looking at the 1st XI, whilst promotion wasn't to be, the fight was taken to the penultimate game of the season and the year on year improvement saw them climb one place better than 2014 up to 5th place in Division 2, but probably more encouraging was the fact that they accumulated 72 points more, won 2 more and lost 5 fewer games. These improvements were helped by the top four batsmen scoring 334 more runs this year, and the five front line bowlers all taking over 20 wickets compared to last season where only 4 bowlers reached double figures, and as a team they took 26 more wickets throughout the season. I have every confidence with these year on year improvements that 2016 could be a very good year for the 1st XI.

It would be remiss of me when writing about the 1st XI not to recognise and thank the fantastic job that Andy Roberts has done in developing the senior squad. Andy stepped down as 1st XI skipper and coach at the end of the season and I know this was a very hard decision for him to make as he put so much in to the role. From a personal perspective, Andy has been a great help to me in my first year as Chairman and I know he hands over the reins with things in very good shape. Graeme Keenan has been working hard behind the scenes both in terms of finding a replacement for Andy and also planning ahead for the 2016 season, so much so we had our first chat about 'next season' in week 5 of this season! It's this kind of forward planning that will drive the club forward and cement a strong future.

Onto the 2nd XI and they took it right to the final game of the season before finally finishing 4th in the table just 13 points off securing the second promotion spot which would have seen them play Premier League cricket next season. As people will undoubtedly analyse where those 13 points could have been made up, one thing that is easy to overlook is that this was their first season back in this division after promotion from Division 2 in 2014. This season they managed to win 13 of their matches, only two less than last season and Matt Owen led from the front with a tremendous 673 runs, despite missing two matches. Obviously a big loss for next season will be Gary Dixon who used all his experience to take 32 league wickets (and a further 12 in the 1st XI) after his retirement following the final game of the season.

Looking back on the contribution Gary Dixon has made, it was fitting that his final game before hanging up his 'whites' was where he made his 500th 1st XI appearance, in doing so becoming only the second player to achieve this feat, the first being Brian Shenton. Both have been fantastic servants to the club both on and off the field and their contribution should not be underestimated.

Onto what started as a turbulent times for the 3rd XI with no official captain in place, the side soon stabilised as Charlie Ward Jnr took over the reins and was able to call on some considerable experience in the form of Messrs. Clark, Shenton, McGowan and Potter to help along. In a highly competitive league, Charlie managed to guide the team to an 8th place finish and an almost identical record to 2014. It's always difficult captaining sides lower down the club as you can never guarantee having the same XI available, but as well as adding valuable experience, having Pete Clark in the side and taking 49 wickets and over 250 runs was an added bonus. On that subject, it was great to witness a good friend making history on the final day of the season as he became the first Upton player to take 1,000 league wickets. Alfred Wildgoose and Simon McGowan stood ahead of Pete in the wicket table before the start of the season with the formers wickets all coming from 'friendly' fixtures and Simon's coming from a mix of league and 'friendly' cricket, so to be the first player to achieve this feat in league cricket is truly remarkable. With Wildgoose's record standing at 1,254 wickets and Pete now having 1,234 wickets in all games, you'd put money on him (body permitting!) overtaking him at some point in 2016.

I think it's fair to say that the despite a 4th place finish in the league, the 4th XI had a frustrating year with several games conceded by the opposition leaving a spell of four weeks with no cricket for a lot of the team. Outside of these games, the team won a further 5 games and only lost 6 games and showed year on year improvements from 2014 and have developed a core of 'senior' players who all enjoy their cricket together.

On the Junior front, I was privileged to be invited to say a few words at the Junior Presentation evening and having been present for most of the junior training sessions with my girls taking part I have witnessed first-hand the great work that goes on. What is extremely encouraging is not just the sheer number of children enjoying their cricket, but the number of girls taking part. This continues a fine tradition of juniors progressing through to senior cricket and on the night I highlighted that of the 44 members playing for the senior sides the following day, 33 had come through the junior set up and 18 of which were in the 1st and 2nd XI. Throw into the mix the ongoing development of girls cricket and I truly believe it won't be long before we have females playing in the senior sides, which will be absolutely tremendous for both the devleopment of the club and the game itself.

There is a common misconception that the club closes between the end of the season and April and whilst activities wind down, it is during the 'off season' where we need your support more than ever. The bar is open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and also Sunday afternoons, so please try and pop down for a drink and catch up with fellow members. There are also a number of functions scheduled in the diary for members to enjoy starting with the Annual Hot Pot & Awards Presentation evening on Friday 6th November (click HERE for more details) and the Christmas Draw on Friday 4th December (click HERE for more details). Both of these are great evenings so please try and show your support where possible. We're also working on a number of functions for 2016 with the aim that we publish a full calendar of events so you can plan your social diary! With functions in mind, I'm excited that we are hosting the wedding of Paul & Katja Traill on Saturday 10th October where we will be decking out the tearoom to give it a 'marquee' feel to it as the bride and groom celebrate their big day. It's great that Paul & Katja have chosen the club to host their wedding reception having only been coming down to the club in a 'spectating' capacity for the last few years. Congratulations from myself and the rest of the club and we wish you both many years of happiness together.

And finally, I wrote last time about the fantastic contribution that Ben Cant has made during his time at Upton, but as he settles back into his 'normal' life back home in New Zealand I know I speak on behalf of the whole club when i wish them both the best of luck for the future and to say there'll always be a pint waiting for you on the bar.