INTRODUCTION
Every year, as I sit down to write this report, I tell myself I won’t fall back on a metaphor or analogy. And every year, 11 years in, I inevitably do. So, in the spirit of maintaining the tradition you never asked for, I’ll lean unapologetically into a new one tonight.

Last year, the message centered around MAKING A DIFFERENCE. This time it comes from a book some of you may know: Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?

It tells the story of the British men’s rowing eight who, after years of frustration and underperformance, won an unexpected Olympic gold medal in Sydney in 2000. Their transformation didn’t come from some magic tactic or a sudden burst of talent. It came from adopting one simple, brutally effective question:

“Will it make the boat go faster?”

That was it. That became the filter for every decision they made.

• Every action
• Every habit
• very sacrifice
• Every choice, on and off the water

If something helped the boat go faster, they did more of it.

If it didn’t, even if they liked doing it, even if it was something they’d always done—it was gone.

It was a way of cutting out noise, avoiding distraction, and focusing relentlessly on what mattered most.

I want us to keep asking ourselves a simple but powerful question:

Does what we do move us forward?

If the answer is yes, we keep doing it. If not, we rethink, refine, and refocus.

Before I dive further into that, let me pause on something I never take for granted. If you decide tonight is the night you vote me out then this will suddenly become a very emotional farewell speech… but assuming you don’t, it will be my 12th year as Chairman.
When I first took on the role, I absolutely did not expect to find myself joining such illustrious company on that board over there. I genuinely thought I’d do a couple of years, certainly not be entering a second decade – and certainly not be searching for analogies to keep these reports entertaining for this long.

Yet here we are, and what a privilege it continues to be.

Every year I remind us of the same three principles we are governed by – and they remain the compass for every decision we take:

• Maintaining a sound financial footing
• Ensuring our members have the right opportunities to enjoy their cricket
• Balancing our present needs with long-term sustainability

Those principles are as important now as at any point in our history—particularly because we stand at what I can only describe as a pivotal moment for the club.

We are transitioning in key leadership areas within our Governing Committee. After years of exceptional service, Rob Chapman steps down as Secretary and Dave Smith as Cricket Chairman. Both have given immeasurable amounts of time, energy, calmness, and good sense to this club, and both leave with our huge respect and heartfelt thanks.

And on top of that, within touching distance, sits the piece that will define our future more than anything else: a new lease. Something we have been working tirelessly on since 2018. We are now closer than ever to securing it. And when we do, the question “Will it make the boat go faster?” will guide everything that follows.

Before I go any further, I also want to take a moment to thank every single member of the committee, all of the officers who have served the club and those who’ve given up their time volunteering over the past year. So much of what keeps Upton Cricket Club moving forward happens quietly, behind the scenes, and often without recognition. The meetings, the planning, the phone calls, the problem-solving, the paperwork, the endless “little jobs” that keep the place running — none of it happens by accident. It happens because a group of people care deeply about this club and give up their time, energy, and expertise to make it better. I’m incredibly grateful for everything you’ve done and continue to do.

In 1901, William Sinclair Scott Hannay had a vision to form what we now know as Upton Cricket Club. That means 2026 marks our 125th anniversary, a landmark that signifies that your cricket club has been well run, its been well maintained, it’s strived to develop and is the club we can all proudly call OURS.

If ever there was a year to step forward with clarity, ambition, and purpose… this is it.

SENIOR CRICKET
First of all, my sincere thanks go to Matt Owen, who steps down after four dedicated seasons as 1st XI captain. His leadership, commitment, and resilience have been invaluable. Together with this, Dave Smith deserves a huge thank you for how he’s guided Senior Cricket with the logistical supremacy that is admired across Cheshire. Thank you both.

My thanks also go to all our senior captains. As we know all too well, selection meetings can feel like solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, but every weekend we put at least four sides out, and that remains a significant achievement.

On the field, there was much to reflect on:

• A tremendous day out at Cheadle Hulme saw the 1st XI win the inaugural T20 Cup for Division 2 & 3 clubs, with over 100 supporters creating an atmosphere we will all remember.
• A superb effort from the 2nd XI, earning back-to-back promotions which will see them playing Premier Division cricket in 2026
• The 3rd XI competed superbly in a division made up entirely of 2nd teams, finishing just 22 points off promotion.
• The 4th XI had a tough season resulting in relegation but will be playing next year at a level which is far more suitable for development.
• The Ladies XI once again competed strongly, finishing second in their division

And, in the context of this year’s theme, the players will have subconsciously had to ask themselves: “Will what I do here help the boat move faster?” More often than not, the answer would have been a resounding yes.

Looking ahead, our Ladies section continues to grow, with several promising juniors coming through. The decision to remain in Division 2 (despite the option to drop down) reflects a long-term mindset that mirrors our theme. The introduction of a Ladies softball side also provides exciting opportunities for more participation.

But the off-season message is clear: we must strengthen. And we have. We’ve been efficient and effective in our recruitment, securing several high‑calibre new players that we beat a number of other clubs too because we acted swiftly.

Signing players, however, is just one element. The winter program has been structured with absolute intent:

• Better preparation
• Better competition
• Better performance

Every detail has been designed to make the boat go faster.

We’ve also refreshed our winter training model across senior and junior cricket, providing more consistent, higher‑quality sessions that will benefit the entire club.

JUNIOR CRICKET
Once again, we have seen a huge number of children enjoying their cricket with us, something we should never take for granted.

A massive thank you to Madeleine Ward and her coaches for their tireless work, organisation, and commitment.

Key highlights:

• The Under 12s winning the John North Cup—a tremendous achievement.
• More junior matches this year than I can previously remember, ensuring meaningful opportunities for every age group.
• The U13 tournament organised by Charlie Ward Jnr was a huge success and was widely praised by visiting clubs.
• Numerous juniors stepped into senior cricket, including ten who played 4th XI alone.

Looking ahead, the future is extremely bright, but quality must remain at the centre of everything we do.

We are grateful for the guidance of the Cheshire Cricket Board, particularly Nathan Brown in helping ensure our development pathway is aligned, consistent, and geared towards producing high‑quality players for years to come.

HOUSE & GROUNDS
Under the superb guidance of Ken Barrett and Ian Bruce, our volunteers have once again performed wonders. Their commitment is humbling and remains the backbone of our facilities.

This year we saw:

• Continued improvement in wicket quality
• Significant work on shutters and building maintenance
• Replacement of lounge bench seating
• Major improvements to the nets: Lane 1 resolved, two bowling machines acquired, and enhanced screening added
• Support offered to the Environment Agency by allowing their contractors to use our facilities as a welfare station
• The unfortunate theft of several items from the garage—but volunteers rallied quickly and impressively

Looking ahead and with our 125th anniversary approaching, and the potential security of a new lease, our approach to facilities must be purposeful and strategic.

We will ask: which improvements genuinely move us forward, and which are simply “nice to have”?

BAR & SOCIAL
As ever, a huge thank you to Ian Sharrock, who once again has run the bar with remarkable efficiency and professionalism.

This year we achieved record bar sales, proof not only of Ian’s efforts but of the inclusive, welcoming environment everyone here helps create.

Remarkably, we retained bar prices at 2022 levels despite rising costs nationally.

Social events were once again a strong feature of our year:

• The Race Night was a great success
• The Hot Pot & Awards Evening, thanks to Lee Dixon, was extremely well received
• The Christmas Draw once again proved a fantastic evening bringing members together in the depths of winter.

Looking ahead, the events for 2026 are being worked on behind the scenes and we are hoping to have plenty to suit everybody as we celebrate our 125th anniversary, not least a big anniversary celebration party in the first half of the season.

ADMINISTRATION & COMMUNICATIONS
Our WhatsApp Community group has gone from strength to strength, significantly improving communication with members.

A huge thank you must go to outgoing Secretary, Rob Chapman, whose years of service have been exceptional. Rob doesn’t just do the Secretary’s role — he covers a whole range of tasks that keep the club ticking over, many of which fall outside the traditional remit. As part of planning for the year ahead, we’ll be reviewing these extra responsibilities and looking for ways that other members can help share the load so that we have a broader team supporting these important jobs. His calmness, efficiency, and breadth of unseen work have made a profound difference when it comes to all things ‘administration’. Your skill, calmness and dedication will be missed.

Looking ahead, our communications remain among the strongest of any club locally & nationally, and as we move into a major period of development, their importance will only grow.

FINANCE
Reflecting on the season just passed, match‑fee collection improved significantly this year, although not without the occasional reminder!

A cost often overlooked is the supply of free shirts to every senior player whenever we change kit provider. With ICON taking over for 2025, this cost the club over £2,000.
Looking ahead, to fund the improvements the club needs, we must continue to explore new revenue opportunities. I’ve challenged the Governing Committee to be creative in their thinking and not just rely on the traditional revenue streams, e.g. the bar.
The Environment Agency & Amco Giffen arrangement showed what is possible when we utilise underused spaces. Not every idea will proceed, and as an example we had a very attractive proposition from Spotless Water who wanted to install a system used by window cleaners & car valeters at the club. We reviewed this, and whilst financially very appealing, the 24-hour access requirements and the proximity to neighbours, we concluded this wasn’t the right thing to do, but being willing to explore ideas is essential.
Creativity will be key in the years ahead.

COMMUNITY
Reflecting on the past year, we’ve supported the community (both near & far) in a number of ways.

The ‘Winter Warmer’ proved once again to be a meaningful initiative, bringing together people from across the local community.

During July, the players supported the Cheshire County Cricket League’s charity initiative with Prostate Cancer, donating money based on their individual performances.

A small group of players also organised a variety of social competitions including darts, Last Man Stands & an Ashes prediction. All of these have helped raise funds and strengthen camaraderie and I’m delighted they have been player led initiatives.

Our support of Parkinson’s UK (Wirral branch) continues to grow as they expand their use of our tearoom for both table tennis and their new monthly drop‑in café.

Looking ahead, the Winter Warmer will return for 2026 and as part of our 125th anniversary celebrations, several projects will be launched, including a Memorial Wall, led by Graeme McGowan, to honour former members of the club and provide a space for friends and family to reflect.

FUTURE PLANNING
This is the heart of this year’s report, and we’ll start with an update on the Lease position.
Since 2018 we have worked tirelessly toward securing a long‑term lease with Leverhulme Estates. The journey has been complex, frustrating at times, but always purposeful.
We now have a draft set of Heads of Terms that provides security, clarity, and long‑term stability.

This is the moment the next era of Upton Cricket Club begins and once the lease is secured, the real work starts.

The Governing Committee reviewed 15 potential development projects and members voted on their top priorities. The top six (due to a tie) are:

• Back pitch changing rooms
• Net upgrade
• Bar upgrade
• Front changing rooms
• Car park/driveway resurfacing
• Outfield remediation

We’re just working on the finer details of what each of these look like, but there’s clearly some very exciting projects here. To help us to structure a multi‑year plan for these developments we’re working closely with Cheshire Cricket Board to ensure we deliver these in a responsible and sustainable way.

A few things to call out…

• We cannot do everything at once.
• We may need to pivot as finances, needs, and opportunities evolve.
• But we will move with purpose, not noise.

And the guiding question will always be:
Will it make the boat go faster?

If yes, we proceed. If not, we wait.

CONCLUSION
We stand at an exciting juncture in our long history.
On and off the field, momentum is building.
Our 125th year is upon us.
A new lease is within reach.
Major improvements are planned.
Leadership transitions are happening with gratitude and respect.
And opportunities — real, tangible opportunities — lie ahead.

This is a wonderful time to be part of Upton Cricket Club, one which we as a Governing Committee can’t do alone. I’m honoured to be part of this wonderful Club, and together we can create a very exciting future for not just our club, but the wider community.