Saturday will be a special day for Gary Dixon as he steps on to the field to play in his 500th 1st XI match for Upton Cricket Club. Gary’s 1st XI career started on the 14th April 1984 with a home game against neighbours Irby where he scored 19 runs before being caught by Johnson off the bowling of Fewtrell. He also claimed his first wicket (M Smith) in a 6 over spell, which saw him bowl 3 maidens and return figures of 1 for 18.

In the 31 years since then, Gary has been an almost ever-present in the side with the exception of a few years where he has taken a ‘break’, and captained the side in 2004, 2005 and 2008. During that 31 year spell, Gary has amassed a host of stats he and the club can quite rightly be proud of:

• The leading 1st XI run scorer of all time with 10,956 runs (more than 2,500 more than his nearest rival; Leonard Phillips) in 450 innings, with 82 ‘not outs’ at an average of 29.77
• He has scored the most 1st XI hundreds with 10, which is equal with Leonard Phillips
• He has scored 500+ runs in a season on 10 occasions
• He has 47 half centuries to his name
• He has a highest score of 134 not out against Northwich on 26th August 1995 which was in a record first wicket partnership of 242 with Andy Hurworth
• He is the only Upton batsmen to score over 1,000 Cheshire County League runs when he scored 1,007 in 1995 which included 5 centuries
• He is the third highest 1st XI wicket taker with 728 wickets.
• He has bowled 4,122.4 overs, which includes 1,158 maidens and conceded 11,187 runs with his 728 wickets coming at an average of 15.37
• He has 35 five wicket hauls
• He has taken 50 wickets in a season on 3 occasions
• He has one hat-trick to his name against Alsager on 26th July 1997
• He has taken 149 catches which sees him positioned fifth in the table with 2 of the top 5 being wicket keepers
• His best bowling figures are 8 for 21 of 14.3 overs against Birkenhead St.Marys on 27th August 1984
• He has played the most games for the 1st XI in the Cheshire County League with 316 (Darren Warburton is hot on his heels with 303)
• He has scored the most runs for the 1st XI in the Cheshire County League with 6,738
• He has taken 373 1st XI Cheshire County League wickets - 38 behind Keith Jones who is the leading wicket taker with 411

I’m sure Gary would welcome the chance to talk as many members past and present through any of these stats over a beer following the game on Saturday, so please come down and show your appreciation for this tremendous achievement when the 1st XI play their final game of the season this Saturday (12th September) at home to Alvanley (12.30pm start)

*All stats are based on the records we hold - but we're sure if any are wrong Gary will help us correct them!