Without any question of doubt, Aberdeenshire had a season to remember; after winning promotion to the Eastern Premier League, the top club league in the Scottish club game. The usual play off against the winners of ESCA didn’t happen as the ESCA champions Drummond Trinity didn’t meet the criteria set to play in the EPL. Other clubs at the top of ESCA had a similar problem and that might make it easier for relegated Stewart’s Melville to bounce straight back up, assuming their better players don’t move to one of the remaining 6 EPL teams in Edinburgh. And then just to confirm their all round superiority in the local game, Mannofield, the club’s second string, were runaway winners of Grade 1.
Encouragingly, both achievements were accomplished with young teams, sending out a strong message to challengers that they could be a leading force in North East cricket for years to come, though runners up serial winners of the top local league Bon Accord might have other thoughts, as will third placed and ever improving Knight Riders.
But while the Mannofield men could be set to dominate the domestic scene, surviving in next season’s EPL will be the name of the game for captain Lewis Munro’s men. Difficult, yes but having got there, the area’s latest ambassadors have nothing to fear but fear itself, as no doubt veteran Kenny Reid, a survivor of Shire’s last experience in the top flight will be pointing out to them.
There will also be hope for those NE teams who have been left behind in the Strathie, that they too can take the Shire way to national glory, including Huntly who under the shrewd leadership of Jack Mitchell demonstrated, albeit only in bursts, that they have the talent at their disposal. Crescent-Dunecht also proved they have the all round ability under their captain Nathan Thangaraj.
Stoneywood-Dyce, the fourth of the local hopefuls had a season to forget, but anyone who writes off the People’s Park side ability to bounce back, underestimates the depth of resources available to president Mark Lambley, who has also taken a leading role in promoting the women’s game in the region.
With Aberdeenshire going out of the SPCU North East Championship and no team moving down, the SPCU will have decisions to make around who plays in which division for 2027. Finishing 9th, as Stoneywood Dyce did, would usually lead to relegation, but 8th placed Dundee High had issues with access to Dalnacraig in the latter part of the season and grass pitch access is mandatory in the top SPCU division. 2nd Forfarshire cruised to the SPCU 1st division title and will bring an international ground back to the top flight, but Master Blasters and Gordonians will be hoping the jigsaw puzzle falls in their favour for potential promotion.
All these teams can look forward to next season, and the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Aberdeenshire to the big time, especially as they all have a growing commitment to developing the junior cricket.
But while the Strathie has been a growth area for enterprise with a competitive edge, the Grades has also prospered, particularly in Grade 1 where the generally good summer has brought out the best in a number of batsmen, including some of the well established figures in the game who continue to fill their boots in the face of it has to be said, some friendly bowling, which has to be addressed by coaches at all levels.
Mannofield may have taken the honours in Grade 1, but significantly Huntly, 2nd Bon Accord, 3rd Knight Riders were the winners of Grades 2, 3, and 4, obviously benefitting from having access to big squads, whereas clubs with only one team, notably tapered off towards the end of the season.
The various cup competitions provided the usual thrills and spills, though the centre piece of them, the Aberdeenshire Cup failed to get off the ground once the winners Bon Accord had put a stranglehold on Knight Riders, denying the Groats Road side a fourth consecutive win. Having said that the losers had a season to be proud of, being for many the most progressive and forward thinking, resulting in them impressing in three divisions. A feather in the cap for their dedicated captain Kannan Palaniyandi.
The Bon Accord Cup was won by Aberdeen Tigers, while Ceylon Deeside picked up the Reid Cup after their opponents Ellon Gordon failed to raise a team after the first game was abandoned without a result being declared.
Overall, a good season, played generally in the best of spirits, though it has to be said, some teams need to read the rules more thoroughly before games.
And finally it was good to see an 11 year old making the headlines, as was the case when at the Gordon Park Riaan Dumpa held up the home attack for 31 balls in a last wicket stand for Crescent-Dunecht, only to fall to the wiles of veteran Jon Barrett who was back in harness after an eye operation. A genuine clash of David and Goliath.