To mark 20 years since the Upminster Under 16's reached the final of the prestigious Mobil Matchplay competition, the 1996 side will be facing a Select XI consisting of players that the side regularly played against and club members at Upminster Park on May 1st. All of the 1996 side will be playing and they will be up against a side containing current and ex Upminster players. The game will be a 40 over affair beginning at 2pm. Below shows the route to the final and semi-final & final reports from 'The Windmill Gazette'

Route to the Final

Group 8
South Woodford - won by 9 wickets
Wanstead - won by 3 wickets
Bentley - won by 34 runs
Goodmayes & Blythswood - won by 146 runs

Quarter Final

Colchester & East Essex 63a.o
John Curtis 3/1 Andrew Powell 3/19
Upminster 64/2
Paul Middlemiss 33*
Won by 8 Wickets

Semi-Final

14th August 1996, venue semi-final of Mobil Matchplay at Pegasus - who's nervous?

Paul gives his usual signal from the middle - we're fielding. Poor Billericay don't know what hit them. Great bowling from Phu Ly and Andy Powell (8 overs 19 run 2 wickets) with 12 scored off his first over! Heartbreaker (8overs 15 runs 2 wickets) and Buffalo (6.1 overs 19 runs 4 wickets) meant Billericay were all out for 123, their lowest score in the competition. In reply Paul Middlemiss stayed there for a fine 22, Buffalo collected 'Man of the Match' from Alan Lilley with his best knock of the season - 42*, well supported by Daniel Tyler on 19. Upminster winning by 2 wickets in a nail biting finish

Billericay 123ao
Upminster 124/8

Final
8th September - County ground Chelmsford

10.00 hrs - Major opens the Pav, sizzling bacon rolls mean everyones meeting at the club! Well done John (Jenny must be at Chelmsford preparing the teas) The ladies are pinning their rosettes and getting the coach decorations ready. Barmy Army as usual in the corner for a quick Bud planning how they can get their dirnk into Chelmsford. big Cols pacing up and down saying 'wheres Middle, wheres Phu? Are we 2 short?

Finally 2 coaches deaprt Upminster bound for EssexCount Ground - banners and club colours flying. Big Cols final check - all players on board but wheres Bobbywo? Make sure hes not on the girls coach!

Once again great bowling and fielding from the team - Andy Powell 6 overs 0/27 Phu Ly 8 overs 1/30 Daniel Tyler 7 overs 1/30. Pity a bit of luck didn't come our way when they were tied down with 68 from 20 overs.

Our batting was disappointing but Rob Waghorn and Phu Ly saw us past runs which looked way beyond us at one point.

The result was nothing to be ashamed of against one of the strongest Under 16 sides the boys were a credit to the club in their dress and manor they conducted themselves throughout the day.