An eventual third place finish in Division One, as in 2024, was a satisfactory finish for the 1st XI as the team continued the progression and development of the previous two years. This year's Division One contained two standout sides in Loughton and Epping and that, along with a slow start to the season from Upminster, meant promotion never looked on the cards. However, the final finishing position and a number of the performances in the second half of the season meant the campaign ended in a positive fashion and with everyone very much looking forward to 2026.

The season began with Kiran Kullar making an excellent century in a friendly win at Hornchurch and this was followed up with an excellent all-round performance in the League Cup against Old Southendians at Garon Park. Stand in skipper Aaron Beard picked up 6-16 to help bowl out the home side for 136 before Kullar and Mo Ahmad gave Upminster a solid start in reply. There were one or two wobbles along the way before Gus Philpot saw his side home on his competitive debut for the club. That victory set up a second round visit to Premier Division Brentwood, and despite a decent performance any hopes of a cup run were snuffed out. Beard was in fine form with the bat, making a brilliant 98, while good contributions from Ahmad and Shafiq Rahman helped Upminster to post 225. Two early wickets then had the home side in a spot of trouble at 25-2 before Jack Hebron and Tom Oakley saw Brentwood to a seven wicket win. Brentwood would go on to claim the League Cup four months later.

The league campaign began with a trip to Valentines Park to take on Ilford, and Upminster were soon in trouble on a difficult pitch. However, Ian Russell marked his first competitive game for the club with a gritty half century and with Tom Daniels making an excellent 89 Upminster were able to recover. However, wickets were lost at the time they would have been looking to accelerate and a final total of 228-9 looked about par. At 66-1 and 184-5 it looked like Ilford would cruise to victory, but Shafiq Rahman had other ideas and his spell of 3-31 brought Upminster back into the game before the home side edged to a one wicket win. Mo Ahmad and Kullar both continued their fine starts to the season a week later at Epping, but it wasn't enough to stop Upminster falling to a five wicket loss. Ahmad made exactly 100 and Kullar made 54 to put Upminster on top, but once again when acceleration was needed wickets tumbled, with Callum Berry and Jamie Green the only others to make a meaningful contribution. Upminster's total of 237-8 never looked likely to be enough against a strong Epping batting line up, and 80 from Sarthak Kohli helped guide his side to a comfortable win. A first league win did arrive a week later when Aztecs were well beaten at Upminster Park. Aaron Beard, Max Carter-Miller and Rahman all picked up three wickets as the visitors were bowled out for just 60. Daniels then made 30 not out as Upminster coasted to an eight wicket win. Any hopes that a climb up the table would now begin were quickly ended at Chingford on the last day of May. Stuart Budd made 93 for the home side and there were a number of other good top order contributions as the game threatened to get away from Upminster before four wickets for Nehal Butt and three for Rahman brought them back into the contest. However, even on a ground renowned for high scores the home side would have been happy with their total of 312 as they were bowled out from the final ball of the innings. Kullar and Ahmad both made half centuries once again as Upminster began the chase, but the run rate required was always on the rise and Chingford remained in control. Gus Philpot made 54 from 42 balls to give Upminster hope and there were brief late cameos from the lower order before the visitors were bowled out for 245 with more than five overs now used.

The club exited the two remaining cup competitions across the end of May and early June. In the Dukes Essex League T20 Upminster took on Orsett and Thurrock in the group semi-final at Chelmer Park and came out on top in an excellent game. Kiran Kullar and Tom Daniels continued their excellent form with good contributions, but the Upminster innings was lit up by Aaron Beard. The captain struck 73 from 42 as they set Orsett a target of 186 before picking up three early wickets to put themselves in charge. However, Callum Greene didn’t give up the fight for Orsett and peppered the boundaries as he looked to pull of an unlikely victory. Greene ended 59 not out from just 30 balls but Upminster just about kept their nerve to move into the group final where they faced hosts Chelmsford. Upminster put up a brave fight in a rain affected contest, and Beard was in the runs again, but the Premier Division side had too much power in the end and prevailed by 51 runs. Upminster’s exit from the Conference Cup was far more comprehensive as Kent Premier Division side Bexley proved way too strong at Upminster Park. Calum Basey and Harry Turner both made centuries for Bexley while Ben Aldred made 98 as the visitors posted a formidable 369-5. Upminster actually reached 100-3 in reply at one stage before collapsing against the spin of Louie James as they were bowled out for 120.

The first league game of June was washed out at Orsett meaning Upminster were under real pressure when they welcomed Gidea Park and Romford to Upminster Park. Park elected to bat first on a Mark Severn special and despite four wickets for Max Carter-Miller the visitors piled up 275-8 before then reducing Upminster to 23-2. At that stage there would have been long odds on an Upminster win by any margin let alone by seven wickets, but that is how things turned out as Ian Russell and Tom Daniels put together one of the best and most important stands the 1st XI has seen for many years. The pair put on 219 before Russell fell for 116 from 113 balls while Daniels remained to the end, ending unbeaten on 106 as Upminster won with eight balls to spare. Unfortunately, that performance was followed by one of the worst of the season at Loughton. Upminster decided to bat first but it was a decision they came to regret as only Kiran Kullar passed 20 as they were bowled out for just 101 and the home side raced to an eight wicket win. Leaders Epping, one place above Loughton in the table, were next up for Upminster, and Aaron Beard’s side produced a stunning batting performance to pick up a much needed win. Beard decided to field first on a sweltering hot afternoon at Upminster Park, and there were good contributions all the way down the Epping order as they reached 265-8 despite 3-73 from Shafiq Rahman. Crucially Epping declared two overs early, meaning Upminster had two extra overs (47) to try and chase down their target. Mo Ahmad dropped anchor for Upminster to put his side in a good position while Beard struck 85 from 63 balls as the home team took control. When Beard fell Adam Wheater, back in Upminster colours for the first time in two seasons, made a breezy 40 to keep things moving nicely before he and Ahmad (66) fell in quick succession to leave the game in the balance. However, Tom Daniels and Nehal Butt batted well to take Upminster over the line with just four balls to spare.

The halfway point of the league campaign was reached at the start of July and a win over Ilford pushed Upminster into the top half of the table for the first time in 2025. Captain Aaron Beard was the star of the show once again, taking a brilliant 5-62 as Ilford were bowled out for 161. Mo Ahmad was in fine form once again for Upminster at the top of the order, and his innings put his side in full control of the chase. Adam Wheater and Tom Daniels also made good contributions and with Ahmad finishing on 75 not out Upminster won by six wickets with plenty of time to spare. Once again, a fine performance was followed by a below par one as Aztecs came out on top at St Chads Park. Ahmad, Wheater, Tom Daniels and Kiran Kullar all made good contributions, but nobody was able to go on and play the big innings needed as Upminster closed on 194-9. A second wicket stand of 110 between Mohamed Faraz and Dineth Don put Aztecs on top, and they eventually cruised to a five wicket win. The home game with Chingford was washed out without a ball being bowled but July ended on a high note with a home win over Orsett & Thurrock. Max Carter-Miller (3-44) had Orsett in early trouble, but they recovered thanks to 76 from Lewis Lockyer and a number of good contributions from the middle and lower order. Shafiq Rahman continued his excellent season with three late wickets and Orsett closed on a respectable 250-7. Ahmad and the returning Pulkit Gupta then put Upminster in full control with a brilliant opening stand of 138. Gupta fell for 81 and Ahmad for 67 as Orsett were briefly given hope, but Ian Russell and Wheater (30) steadied the ship, and Russell and Beard then saw Upminster to a brilliant seven wicket win.

August began with a high scoring draw at Old Southendians. Home skipper Max Craddock made a brilliant 118 for Southendians and there were half centuries for Harry Clarke and Ahsan Yousaf as the Old Boys looked like piling up a huge score. Nehal Butt (5-75) then produced a fine late spell to haul Upminster back into the game, but the home side will still have been pleased with their total of 305-8. Kiran Kullar and Mo Ahmad got the Upminster reply off to a solid start and Adam Wheater and Kullar then looked for a while like they would take their side to victory. Wheater made 81 from 52 balls but when he fell the chase stalled and Upminster fell behind the rate. That didn’t stop Kullar completing a brilliant unbeaten century and the opener ended on 116 not out as Upminster closed on 262-5. It was a similar story a week later as the game with Springfield ended in a draw at Upminster Park. Springfield opener Aarav Salil was in fine form as he made 116 and with Chris Frost making 73 the visitors moved towards a good score. Upminster fought back towards the end of the innings but with Springfield needing to win to help their relegation fight they declared two overs early at 266-7. Kullar (51) and Ahmad (87) once again laid a brilliant foundation with an opening stand of 83, and at 166-3 it looked like Upminster could push on towards victory before a clatter of wickets meant last pair Ross Taylor and Shafiq Rahman had to see out the final 32 balls to secure the draw at 223-9. Upminster picked up their first win in August the following week with a brilliant victory over Old Southendians at Upminster Park. Hafiz Afzal and Dan Cooke both made fifties for the visitors but once again Upminster fought back in the second half of the innings and with Shafiq Rahman claiming another three wickets Southendians were eventually bowled out for 261 with six deliveries not used. The chase saw good contributions from Ahmad and Ian Russell before half centuries from Wheater and Aaron Beard seemed to be taking Upminster to a comfortable win. There were some late nerves when the former Essex duo both fell, but Rahman and Butt saw Upminster to a two wicket win. Upminster made it two league wins in a row for only the second time in 2025 when they overcame Gidea Park and Romford in the derby Gallows Corner. Opener Imtiaz Hossain was the star for struggling Park as his 84 laid the foundations for the rest of the batting line up. Rahman picked up three wickets (yet again) as Upminster came back again before some late runs from former Upminster man Will Chuter helped see Park to 228-9. That never looked like being enough against Upminster’s powerful batting line up but a rare failure from Ahmad, out first ball, gave the home side hope. However, a second wicket stand between Kullar and Pulkit Gupta got Upminster back on track. The pair added 166 before Gupta fell for 87 and Tom Daniels then looked in good touch as he helped Kullar take Upminster towards the finish line. Kullar ended the contest by bringing up three figures once more (ending on 101 not out) as Upminster won by seven wickets. It was very nearly three wins in three at Coronation Park at the end of the month before Springfield prevailed by two runs in an absolute thriller. Aarav Salil made his second century in three weeks against Upminster to put Springfield into a good position, but as in many games in 2025 Upminster came back in the second half of the innings, with Ollie Burley producing a fine spell to claim 3-49 and help bowl out the home side for 248. Gupta, Kullar and Gus Philpot all made starts and Beard made 67 from 57 to put Upminster in control, but they kept losing wickets at important times to keep Springfield in the game. At 205-8 it looked like Springfield were on the verge of victory, but late defiance from Burley and Rahman then seemed to be taking Upminster to the win. However, Rahman fell with just three needed for victory to give Springfield the win by the narrowest of margins.
With the redeveloped pavilion complete and open for business the season concluded with already promoted Loughton coming to Upminster Park. Max Carter-Miller (2-35) and Ollie Burley (2-41) helped reduce Loughton to 77-4. Hamza Ahmed batted well to make 65 and with a number of the middle and lower order reaching double figures Loughton were able to recover to make 269-9. Pulkit Gupta, Mo Ahmad, Kiran Kullar and Gus Philpot all made good contributions to put Upminster in charge and Adam Wheater then made a brilliant 82 from just 46 balls before falling just as victory seemed assured. It was then left to Nehal Butt, in his final league game for the club, to strike the winning runs as Upminster finished the season in style with a fine three wicket win.

It all meant Upminster ended in third position for a second consecutive season, albeit they were some way behind champions Epping and second placed Loughton. The second half of the season saw four wins and only two losses, but there was simply too much work to do after the first five games of the campaign (which had seen just one win).

With the bat Mo Ahmad led the way and scored more than 800 league and cup runs which was a simply fantastic achievement. Kiran Kullar and Aaron Beard also scored heavily throughout the season, with Kullar making two brilliant league centuries, while Adam Wheater scored nearly 400 runs in just 10 innings. Pulkit Gupta and Ian Russell showed the value of experience when they were in the side while Gus Philpot and Tom Daniels both showed their undoubted potential with Daniels averaging 39.00 and scoring nearly 400 runs.

Bowling wise four players took more than 20 wickets with the evergreen Shafiq Rahman leading the way with 28 league wickets. His haul was closely followed by Nehal Butt, Max Carter-Miller and Aaron Beard while youngsters Philpot and Ollie Burley also showed their capabilities with several good spells during the season.

After two successive third place finishes, the side will hope to push on and put themselves in the frame for promotion in 2026. The form shown all the way through 2024 and in the second half of the 2025 season shows that with one or two small adjustments and a little better availability there is no reason why a top two finish cannot be achieved. There is now a nucleus of experienced and proven players within the squad while Mo Ahmad, Tom Daniels, Gus Philpot, Kiran Kullar and Ollie Burley all enjoyed breakthrough seasons in different ways in 2025 and the likes of Callum Berry, Jamie Green, Gus Siggins and Ross Taylor will all be looking to nail down spots in the team over the coming years. Everyone at the club will be hoping 2026 turns out to be an exciting and successful one for the 1st XI.