Not long now ladies and gents! It seems but a day ago that the 2014 season was coming to an end, and now, here we find ourselves once again, in the run up to another season.

I once more must echo the words of the first team skipper in saying that this winter has been exceedingly productive for the cricket club as a whole. The completion of the tea room is a massive boost for the club and having seen it in action for not only cricket functions but other events as well, it seems we have exceeded certainly my own, and I’m sure many others expectations. Secondly, this new website is a credit to the new Chairman and I’m sure I speak for us all when I say that we look forward to seeing how it develops over the coming months.

So to cricket itself. It was an honour and a privilege to get the opportunity to captain a senior side at my lifelong club for the 2014 season. Those who have played under me in junior cricket know only too well how driven I am to win cricket matches and thankfully 2014 saw us do just that in all but 3 of our fixtures and as a result I was proudly given the chance to collect another trophy to add to the clubs rich history of winning titles.

2015 as a result provides a new challenge for an ever evolving 2nd XI. The retention of 1st XI and 2nd XI players, means our squad is almost identical to that which we had available last year. The loss of our ‘50 wicket man’, James Woods to sea is far from ideal, however the re-signing of Simon Simcox from Caldy, sees our bowling attack as strong as it was at the close of last year.

As Andy stated in his piece a few weeks ago, bringing through young talent is essential to the longevity of Upton, and the 2nd XI will hopefully, all being well, provide an adequate platform for future first team players. The likes of Harry Cross, Dan Owen, Tom Blake and Lewis Doyle have already broken into the 2s, all under the age 18 when they did so and it is their job now to show us all why we believe them to be 1st XI players of the future. I have great faith that this year they will do just that!

So simply, the 2015 season is about another title for the 2nd XI. I see no reason with the side we have, that we cannot push for further glory this year. In my opinion, the team we will start with come April 18th, is good enough to compete in Cheshire’s top division at 2nd team level. It is our job to prove that starting with Brooklands at the UCG.

So here’s to a fantastic year across the club at all levels! Let us hope that this time next year I will be able to write of how the 1st XI will be pushing for a Division One title and that we will be competing for a Premier League!

All the very best to one and all,
Matt Owen
2nd XI Skipper