In a repeat of last season’s opening day encounter, Upminster’s 1st XI will welcome Epping to RM14 to begin the Hamro Foundation Essex League season on 11th May. The 2023 season opener lasted only three overs before the weather intervened, so everyone will have fingers crossed that the current wet weather is soon replaced by Spring sunshine. Week 2 will see Pulkit Gupta’s side travel to Billericay for a tough looking encounter, while early June will see back to back local derbies against Harold Wood. The 1st XI will then wrap up their season with a home game against Ilford on 7th September.

The 2nd XI face an opening day derby as they make the short trip along Hall Lane to face Harold Wood. They will face more local opposition on the second Saturday of the season when they welcome Shenfield to Upminster Park, while their season will climax with what already looks likely to be a tasty encounter against Wanstead and Snaresbrook, at Overton Drive.

3rd XI trips to Woodford Wells have always been great occasions over the years, and the reigning Premier Division Champions will get the chance to meet old friends on the opening day of the season as they visit Monkhams Lane. Dan Simpson’s side will then travel to Shenfield on 18th May, and in total face five away trips in the opening six weeks of the season. They are also away on the final Saturday of the season, as they make the short journey to Harold Wood.

It’s local opposition for the 4th XI’s season opener, with Gidea Park and Romford 3s coming to Coopers School, and Week 2 will see another local derby as Hornchurch are the visitors. The season will then end with another home game, this time against Orsett and Thurrock 3s.

The “John French Derby” will open the 5th XI’s league campaign as Frenford 4s visit Campion School, before Loughton come to town on the 18th May. The 5s first away game will be a trip to Ilford on Week 3, while they close the season with a home encounter against Chingford 4s.

The 6th XI will start their season with two away matches. They open up against Wickford 4s on the 11th May and then make the short trip to Hornchurch 4s on the 18th. Their first home game of the season comes on Week 3 when they entertain Stanford Le Hope, and they end 2024 with a visit to Billericay 5s.

The Mid-Essex League season actually begins a week earlier on the 4th May, and our Mid-Essex XI will welcome Basildon and Pitsea 4s to the Brian Clay Ground for the club’s first ever fixture in this league. They follow this up by travelling to Rayleigh Fairview 2s and will end their season on 31st August when they host Hornchurch Athletic 4s.

Details of all fixtures for the season can be found on the club’s PlayCricket site.