At Finchampstead, success this summer wasn’t measured in silverware alone. It was in the laughter echoing around the changing room, the steady progress, and the sense that something special was building beneath the surface.
After a strong season the year prior, all eyes were peeled on Finchampstead, who arguably struggled towards the end of the 2024 season, once skipper Chris Britz returned to South Africa. But this year was to be team rebuilt.
They did just that.
Top three in the Home Counties Premier League Division One, just two defeats all year, and the kind of balance most sides crave: a young side maturing, older heads guiding, and every player contributing when it mattered.
“It was a good season,” came the simple reflection. “Lots of players chipped in. The club as a whole did extremely well with all teams finishing in the top half of their respective leagues. Morale around the club is at an all-time high.”
From that alone, you sense a side that’s more than just eleven players. Finchampstead’s rise has been communal, both on and off the pitch, with the 1st XI setting the tone.
Their defining moment?
A chase that will live long in memory against league champions, High Wycombe.
“Chasing down 290 against High Wycombe away gave us the confidence and reassurance that we can beat anyone if we play to our potential.” It was, in many ways, a statement win. Isbell, Salter, and Smith all played their part; Campion and Crerar finished it with and purpose – an almost perfect display.
That day captured Finchampstead’s team culture: bold and unafraid to take on big names.
The individual stories within the team tell their own tale. Ben Salter’s all-round brilliance, Eddie Campion’s two-phase season with wickets early and runs late, and the steady dependability of Smith and Daniel built the backbone.
Sharp found his rhythm as the summer wore on. And then there’s James Isbell who “looked like a million dollars,” they said, still searching for the big score to match his talent, but clearly a player to watch in the 2026 season.
The club’s strength runs deeper than numbers. “We’re a happy team filled with friends,” they explain. “The addition of Campion and the return of Marles really added value to the team through performances as well as off the field. They both fitted in beautifully.”
That togetherness has spilled into the community too. Their partnership with Nirvana Spa has become more than a logo on a shirt; it’s a relationship. “They’ve really bought into our club and come down to support most of our games. Our non-playing members again followed us around. The support, both home and away, has been amazing.”
On the field, respect has been mutual. “Oxford Downs are a really good side. It’s a really nice place to play with a good bunch of lads. Obviously, Wycombe are a really good side and it shows, with them winning the league quite comfortably.”
The goals now?
As ever, ambitious but struck with humility. “We’re aiming to challenge the top end of the table again. Another year behind some of our younger players will hopefully give us the experience we need to pull out more match-winning performances. We’ve proved we’re hard to beat. Now it’s about turning that into outright wins in red-ball cricket.”
And as for the dream scenario? The smile behind the words says it all.
“We’d love to challenge for the title again. Maybe win it on the last weekend? That’s what dreams are made of.”
