With thanks to Jez Lamb @ Upton CC
“We’re On a Journey”: Inside Upton CC’s Rise Back to the Top
🏏 “It’s not the cheque book — it’s the club culture.”
In the world of club cricket, few stories are more compelling than a team on the rise. And in 2024, there was arguably no better example of that than Upton Cricket Club, tucked away on the Wirral and quietly building one of the strongest grassroots setups in England.
They didn’t just have a good season — they had a historic one.
“We sort of self-proclaimed it,” laughs Jez Lamb, Upton’s long-serving chairman. “But yeah — we might just have been the most successful club in the country last year.”
It’s hard to argue. All four of their Saturday league teams were promoted. Three of them won their respective divisions. The women’s side finished runners-up. The under-11s took home their league title too. And with a membership nearing 700, Upton isn’t just winning — it’s thriving.
🔁 From nearly there to almost nowhere — and back again
To understand the scale of Upton’s transformation, you need to rewind a few years.
Back in 2017, they were a Division One club, just a few points away from promotion to the Cheshire County Premier League. “That team, that core, they were so close — and they’re still here,” says Lamb. “But we had a couple of tough years. Lost some players. COVID hit. And we found ourselves down in Division Three.”
It could’ve fizzled out. But instead, it sparked something deeper. A reset. A renewed belief in their culture, coaching, and community.
“The same squad that almost got us up in 2017 is still driving this now. That hunger to put things right is real.”
👥 One club, many stories
Speak to anyone around the club and they’ll tell you: Upton isn’t a club that’s buying its way up. It’s growing from within.
“When people see us winning, they assume we’ve opened the cheque book,” says Jez. “We haven’t. Luke Camden, has come in as fielding coach and player, why? Because he was a junior here. Same with Lee Dixon — a Premier League title winner with Chester. He’s back because he believes in what we’re doing.”
There’s a family feel to Upton. And it’s deliberate. Every team — from the fourth XI to the women’s side — is part of one club, with one vision.
📈 Winning changes everything
The 2023 season started with modest targets. Jez’s personal goal? “Two promotions. Maybe one title.” What they got was something else entirely.
“The bubble just didn’t burst. Every team kept winning. And as soon as players realised they might not get their spot back if they missed a game, availability went through the roof.”
It wasn’t just a streak. It was a statement. And it created a buzz around the ground that hasn’t been seen in years.
“Saturday nights start around 2pm now,” jokes Jez. “Because games finish early and the bar fills up. We’ve got 120+ people watching 1st XI games on a good day. That’s not normal at this level.”
👧 Sophie, Jess, and the future of girls’ cricket
One of Upton’s most exciting developments has been the rise of women and girls’ cricket. And it’s not just participation numbers — it’s role models.
Sophie Morris, who came through the Upton junior ranks, is now a professional with Lancashire. Her name — and soon, her shirt — hangs proudly in the clubhouse.
“For a 14-year-old like my daughter Jess to say ‘I’m playing alongside a professional cricketer’ — that’s huge,” says Jez. “And the best part? Sophie’s still just one of the girls. She comes back, trains, mentors. It’s inspiring.”
The club is now entering structured softball leagues to give younger girls a gentle entry into the game. The aim? To build a proper pipeline — just as they’ve done on the men’s side.
🧠 Premier League mindset, Division Two reality
So what’s next? After last year’s quadruple promotion parade, Upton’s 1st XI are in Division Two — just two jumps away from the Premier League.
“We’re thinking ahead already,” Jez says. “Conversations about 2026 are happening now.”
But they’re not rushing. Facility upgrades, coaching improvements, even subtle shifts in training philosophy — it’s all being ramped up slowly, methodically, and with an eye on sustainability.
“Depth is the big difference as you go up the leagues,” says Jez. “You need 20 good players, not 11. And then you need to keep them all happy. It’s like Ranieri at Chelsea in the early 2000s — it’s a balancing act.”
🏆 Why Premier League cricket matters
Upton turns 125 years old next season. And while the club is proud of its past, it’s the future that’s driving them.
“We’re not obsessed with status,” Jez says. “But if we get back to the Premier League, it would mean everything — not just to the players, but the supporters, the families, the people who’ve been here for decades.”
“Some of our supporters get the bus over from Liverpool every Saturday — rain or shine. That’s what club cricket is all about. That’s what we’re building.”
🔭 The road ahead — steady, ambitious, united
Looking forward, Upton isn’t setting wild targets. But privately, Jez admits he’d love to be back in the Premier League by 2028. “25 promoted, 26 in Division One, maybe 28 in the Prem if we get things right,” he says. “We’ve got the foundations.”
More importantly, they’ve got the people.
Players like Chris MacArthur, who’s returning again this summer. Coaches like Luke Camden. Mentors like Lee Dixon. Families who stay for the barbecues. Juniors who dream of wearing the red shirt.
And a chairman who — even after a decade in the job — still can’t walk away.
“Every year I say I’m done,” Jez smiles. “And then I see the crowd, the smiles, the winning. And I think — nah, I’m not done yet.”
📣 Follow the Journey
You can keep up with Upton Cricket Club’s 2024 season on their socials, and we’ll be checking in with them again later this year as they continue their climb back toward the top.
Got a club on a similar journey? Let us know — we might just come and visit.
