Our 2026 Season Awards night brought the whole club together at The Exchange Pub to celebrate the people who made this year what it was: four Saturday sides, Sunday and midweek cricket, a growing girls’ and women’s section, and juniors stepping up into adult cricket all summer long.

Eight oak trophies, each engraved with the club crest, went to eight very deserving winners.

1ST XI PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHRIS CHAMBERS

Chris was the 1st XI’s complete all-rounder in 2026.

463 runs | Average 38.6 | 17 wickets | Economy 5.32

His season peaked with a superb 126 not out against South Woodham & Burnham in May, when he and Sean Elliott put on 135 for the third wicket.

A week earlier he made 79 not out against Stock, and in August he took 5 for 54 against East Hanningfield and Great Burstead.

Runs, wickets and big moments: a worthy winner.

2ND XI PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SHALEEM EJAZ

Shaleem was the most consistent player in a difficult season for the 2nd XI. On days when runs were hard to come by, he kept the pressure on and kept the opposition honest.

Dependable and always there for the side.

3RD XI PLAYER OF THE YEAR

RICHARD HAWKINS

Richard was the backbone of the 3rd XI batting.

427 runs | 15 innings | Average 28.5 | Three half-centuries

His three fifties came with 66 against Upminster in May, 66 against Chelmsford Super Kings in July and 73 against Brentwood in August.

He also shared four 50-plus partnerships, producing the kind of innings that gave the side something to build on week after week.

4TH XI PLAYER OF THE YEAR

FINTON MAHER

Few players got through more cricket than Finton this summer.

39 games | Eight teams | 297 runs | 24 wickets

He represented sides from the Under 13s and Under 15s through to the 4th XI, Sunday and midweek teams, and even made a 1st XI appearance.

His highest score came against Horndon on the Hill in August, when he batted at seven and top-scored with 45 not out as the 4th XI posted 157.

Finton is exactly what we want our pathway to produce: a young player stepping into adult cricket and making a real difference.

LADIES’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SIMONE LYONS

2026 was a landmark year for girls’ and women’s cricket at the club, with more than 30 girls training on Friday evenings, the Sirens playing matches and our first ever Ladies’ Day at Southchurch Park.

Simone’s award caps that year.

Congratulations, Simone, on a fantastic season.

CLUB PERSON OF THE YEAR

MIKE SWEENEY

Mike’s contribution goes well beyond the scorebook, but the scorebook is impressive too.

20 games | 296 runs

Playing mostly for the 3rd XI, one of his highlights came in June against Basildon & Pitsea. Mike made 33 not out and was there at the finish alongside Paul Elton as the 3rd XI chased down 209.

Club Person of the Year recognises someone who gives their time to make the club better for everyone, and Mike does exactly that.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

MADDY READER

Maddy has run our bar this year, and she’s become one of the most familiar and popular faces at Southchurch Park.

Bar turnover passed £30,000 in 2026, up from around £19,000 last year.

She’s been at the centre of a busier clubhouse and the Friday nights that come with it.

She’s also simply a great person to have around the club, and everyone who has stood at that bar this summer will know it.

Thank you, Maddy.

A big thank you too to Shri Shah, who took charge of the bar in his first year and has played a huge part in turning it around.

THE SOSEMTCC AWARD

SUGADHEV SRIRAMAJEGAN

Sugadhev’s season had a bit of everything.

500 runs | Average 31.3 | 17 wickets | Economy 5.34

Highlights included 89 against Chelmsford Challengers in September, 75 not out in a 212-run opening stand with Alex Gillespie against South Weald, and 51 on a Sunday against Willow Herbs.

Away from his own cricket, he has given countless hours to coaching and developing our juniors.

The SOSEMTCC Award goes to the person who best represents what the club stands for, and this year that’s Sugadhev.

THANK YOU

A huge thank you to our sponsors at The Exchange Pub for hosting us, and to RTH Staircases for sponsoring the trophies.

Thank you also to everyone who came along, to the committee and captains who put so much into the season, and to every player, coach, volunteer and supporter who made 2026 such a good year for the club.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR 2026 WINNERS

What a season. Roll on 2027.