Is it me getting old or are Summers passing quicker than they used to?
It only seems like yesterday that the whole thing was starting up and here I am now at a wet Lord’s preparing for the final week of the Middlesex County Cricket League.
Overall, and from the umpiring appointments I have completed in Divisions Three and Four, it seems to have been a good summer for the MCCL. The cricket has been good, the weather has obviously been fantastic and the behaviour of you, the players, seems to have been pretty good too.
On the note of behaviour. Yes, we want the games to be competitive and of the highest quality possible but we all know there is a line that we need to stay on the right side of. The overwhelming majority of you appear to have done just that, so thank you and well done.
Prior to the final weekend of league cricket in 2025 there have, as in most seasons, a number of the major matters have been settled.. North Middlesex won the Premier Division last weekend, Twickenham have won Division One, Pinner Challengers have won Division Four, Ealing Three Bridges have won Division Six and Tamil United have won Division Seven. Congratulations go out to all of you.
There are, however, a large number of things still to be settled on what will be, weather permitting, an exciting, nervous and thrilling last day of the league season. Myself, Angus Fraser, and North London’s Tommy Pegler have gone through each 1st XI league to see what the permutations are for those teams with a big and important weekend of cricket ahead of them.
In the last two seasons we have had the excitement and tension of entering the final week of the MCCL with the winners yet to be decided. In 2025 this wasn’t the case.
Congratulations go to North Middlesex for winning the MCCL Premier Division for the third time but, on this occasion, their triumph was not completed with a thrilling or resounding win. Nobody will question North Middlesex being worthy champions but, having lost on Saturday to Hornsey, they owed their moment of glory to the fact that Shepherds Bush, their nearest rivals, lost to Teddington.
Who would win the title has, for the majority of the season, been a two horse race, with North Middlesex and Shepherds Bush pulling well ahead of the rest. Early on it appeared as though Shepherds Bush would win their first ever title but, as in 2024, that moment of joy has escaped them as they just fell short.
Winning the MCCL Premier League completes a very successful year for North Middlesex. The club not only won the Premier Division; they have also secured ownership of their ground and, if their 2nd XI defeat Teddington on Saturday – who are in first place - will win the 2nd XI Premier League too.
Last years champions, Ealing, have spent most of the season in a relegation position but they seem to have found their best form when it was needed most. Four wins and a draw in their last five games has seen them jump out of the relegation places, but they are not safe yet.
And whilst the top of the table may not be offering a thrilling finale, the 2nd relegation spot will.
This is the scenario -
Congratulations to Twickenham who, having already secured promotion, confirmed themselves as champions last Saturday with a 41 run victory over Indian Gymkhana.
Who occupies the second promotion spot is slightly more complicated, with Finchley and Brondesbury competing for the solitary place. Finchley are currently five points ahead of Brondesbury yet they need to win on Saturday at Indian Gymkhana to be certain of promotion. Acton, having completed all their matches – Osterley’s withdrawal from the league meant that every club had two matchless weekends – cannot add to their points tally.
This is how the top of the table currently looks –
These are the important matches -
Indian Gymkhana v Finchley
North London v Brondesbury
These are the scenarios -
At the bottom it is far more simple. Osterley’s withdrawal from the league has meant only one team will be relegated, which is Southgate, whose fate has been certain for a few weeks.
Division Two is set for a thrilling last Saturday even though the teams occupying 1st and 2nd position are already promoted. This is because these two teams – Eastcote and Harrow – will be going head to head for the title at Paynes Folly, the home of Harrow.
Eastcote currently sit seven points ahead of Harrow, and much of their success has been down to the performances of the former Harrow player Ronald Ettienne. Ettienne is currently the top wicket-taker in 1st XI cricket, with 54 wickets at an average of 12.72. He has also scored 590 runs at an average of 73.75. A pretty good seasons work!!
Osterley’s withdrawal from the league in 2025 and the arrival of Old Merchant Taylors in Division Three in 2026, means that only one team will be relegated in 2025 and that side is Harrow Town.
This is the scenario –
Division Three is set for a highly competitive and enthralling final day of the season as everything is still up for grabs. Three clubs – Bessborough, West Harrow and Kay Plus – are fighting it out for the title and the two promotion spots.
At the bottom Wembley are already relegated, which means two teams – Old Isleworthians and Stoke Newington – will still be hoping to avoid the drop to Division Four.
This is how the top of the table currently looks –
These are the important matches –
Chiswick v West Harrow
Friends United v Bessborough
Stoke Newington v Kay Plus
These are the scenarios –
This is how the bottom of the table currently looks –
8. Old Isleworthians 52 points
9. Stoke Newington 48 points
10. Wembley 12 points
These are the important matches –
Old Isleworthians v South Hampstead
Stoke Newington v Kay Plus
These are the scenarios -
Pinner Challengers were promoted and became Champions a few weeks ago, so congratulations to them.
Matters, however, become rather more complicated after this as there are four teams still in the hunt for promotion. At the bottom it is far less complicated as Actonians and South Harrow are already relegated.
This is how the top of the table looks –
This weekend there are three crucial fixtures, which are –
Headstone Manor vs Kensington & Chelsea
Alexandra Palace vs MTSCC
South Harrow vs North London Muslims
These are the scenarios –
The batteries on the phones of the players and officials of most clubs in this division will need to be recharged regularly on Saturday as five teams are still in the hunt for promotion and three still have a chance of being champions.
The fun doesn’t end at the top of the table. Swamibapa are already relegated and one of Ealing Hanwellians or United Sporting Club will be hoping to avoid joining them.
The current standings at the top of Division Five are –
There are number of crucial fixtures taking place, which are as follows –
London Sportif vs London Superkings
New Calypsonians vs United Sports
United Sporting Club vs London Desperados
Perivale Phoenicians vs Northwick Park
As you can guess there are many variables too, so here goes our best description of the scenarios –
The current standings at the bottom of the table are –
These are the fixtures:
United Sporting Club vs London Desperados
Ealing Hanwellians vs Swamibapa
These are the scenarios –
Ealing Three Bridges are champions, so congratulations to them. The team have had an outstanding season and are one win away from a 100% win season. The club have, remarkably, managed to win matches on the two weeks where pretty much every other game across the MCCL’s pyramid was rained off.
At the bottom no clubs will be relegated.
There are three clubs who could potentially join Ealing Three Bridges in Division Five.
This is how the top of Division Six currently looks –
The key fixtures are :
Peshwa vs Regents Park
Youth Wing vs Priory Park
Ealing Three Bridges vs Kingsbury Construction
The scenarios are –
The matches in Division Seven were completed last weekend. Tamil United and Elite have been promoted to Division Six and Tamil Utd go up as Champions, so congratulations to them.
As this is the last league, no team will be relegated.
