No Thursday night nets, No stupid texts off Warren and Rolo asking what the meet time is and no need to schedule games around Oli because of his 'little princess'.

It's when the dust settles I find it easier to summarise the highs and the lows of any season. Expectation has never been higher at Filkins Lane, Not just at 1st XI level but throughout all the teams and sections.

Heroes are coming from all corners of the club. No longer have the star players got the right to lord themselves without being part of the club and putting a little back in.

We have people in the background working away who like at every club, keeping the cogs turning and when we have success on the pitch I know it means that little bit more as they have made a sacrifice along the way.

The top of the club has not looked this strong for a very long time maybe even ever with the depth and quality of players we have coming through the lower sides.

Having a Stephen Ogilby, Matt Griffiths, Ian Metcalf or a Chris Fleet on the field passes on so much in the form of knowledge, etiquette and how we at Chester want to play the game.

Learning to win and be successful is important but playing to win and being ready to step up the sides is how we keep this strong run of results and good feeling around the club going.

Shane Patel, Alex Townsend, Tom Wyatt, oe Maddocks, Ben Harvey and George Metcalf have became key to what we have been about in the past few years. These lads have all grown and improved at their own rate but have shown they want and are ready to stand up when needed.

Alex was used by the firsts and seconds on occasion and he never took a backward step, even when a 6 foot 9 Cheshire quick bowler was flying in.

These lads have learnt how to play with better players and under the stewardship of captains they have been able to take key roles on throughout the season.

I do believe the new Sunday academy team was vital for those lads and some of the younger juniors - Matt Brayne, Charlie Fleet, Max Dunbavand etc to gain league experience but with less importance on winning giving them a chance to learn to occupy the crease and bowl in differing situations.

On 1st XI matters, Injuries and unavailability killed us in the league> But it showed in the cups when the best team took to the field we were much harder to play against. Winning the Cheshire Cup for the fourth successive year was a massive achievement, on the back of a very disappointing trip to Cardiff for the National Club T20 the doubters were out in force, seeing not winning it after making it that far as a failure, New Brighton away was probably the toughest place to have to go, the day before they had secured the Liverpool Comp Premier League, full of confidence and had delayed their celebrations to turn us over.

Seeing the boys pull together and put in a mammoth performance was a proud moment for me and many around the team, and seeing some of the newer players display some of the emotion we had when we won the first of this amazing run was incredible.

My favourite moment of the season was easy for me and it had nothing to do with my own team, Following a famous and convincing display against Ormskirk sealing the place in Cardiff, the team piled onto the bus to be there for the end of the T20 final against our great rivals Neston.

With the traffic heavy, we were still 20 minutes away going into the last 10 overs of the game. It was evenly poised Dan Riley and his guys knew they had to pull together to get over the line, Martin Huber and Andy Dunbavand were the men on the phone commentating like Bumble and Athers. Every dot ball cheered, wild celebration for every wicket. The coach pulled in with just two overs to go and they were so close.

Looking round the field with my coaches hat on I was excited to see all the men in the correct position and Tommy Evans prowling at mid wicket, As Alex Townsend ran in and took that final wicket the 50 or so in the crowd erupted, but my best moment was to come as the team came together for a massive cuddle.

I watched the skipper Dan Riley have a rare moment to himself, turning away towards the other end of the ground arms aloft. He knew the double was completed. As a captain I appreciate that sense of relief and to see it so clear was unreal.

So what for next year?

A club still developing and trying to improve. We can't stand still.

For the first team the league has to be the priority over all other competitions. Believing we have the team to accomplish that is easy, but pulling together week in week out consistency of selection and winning key moments win leagues and that is exactly why Hyde have won the trophy the last two years.

Onto pre-season and finding that little 5% extra where we can and hopefully I can have that Dan Riley moment myself as Stephen Ogilby did back at Oxton away in 2013.

Lee Dixon
Chester Boughton Hall CC Club Coach/ Captain