Among many others, thanks to John Francis, Joe Naughton, Rev, Jon Briley, Pete David, Anwar Kamal, Steve Edwards, Susie Nicoll, Richard Nicoll, Adam Frais, Yvette, Sonia, Crystal, Selina, Sabrina, Mary and Richard Cracknell, Jackie and Jeremy Walter, Joe and Amira Kohler for their immense work, either as umpires, scorers, hosts to overseas players, groundwork, supporting, working behind the bar or running the show behind the scenes.

Thanks as well to the brains trust, who came up with a plan to rejuvenate a couple of things over the winter. Those include Paul Frost, Elliot Lowe, James Parslow, Henry Howeld, Fergal Walter, David Heavyside, Charlie Yorke-Starkey, Simon Fraser, Ben Owen, Sam Hunt, Hugh Teesdale, Jacob Miltz, Jack Hartigan, Danny Francis, Alex Thomas, Tom Greenhalgh, Will Cracknell, Ed Wells, Alex McDonald, Max Harris, Joe Cracknell, Luke Hollman, Ethan Bamber, Evan Flowers, Jacob Miltz, Jack Hartigan and Nick Friend.

There are plenty of others, too, who deserve recognition: it was a pleasure to have Matt Moran back for a second stint from Sydney, and we have loved having Griff Murphy over from Melbourne. As well as Jacob and Jack, they are always welcome back at The Midd; they have all been massive parts of who we are and what we've done. We also said goodbye on Saturday to a club legend in Yvette, who is hanging up her apron after more than a decade of catering for us with teas and post-match meals.

To the juniors who continue to develop, progress, overtake the seniors and represent the club brilliantly, you are the future, as well as the present. It was hugely gratifying to field 68 current and former NMCC juniors in Saturday teams over the summer, we hope to forever see that number rise – whether those colts are pushing for 1st XI honours or are simply the heartbeat of the club from the 4th XI. On Saturday, we fielded a 3rd XI entirely made up of lifelong Middies. Under-19 seamer Keown Taylor was the highest wicket-taker in the club.

There is so much to be proud of. This time in 2022, we were toasting the 2nd XI staying up and commiserating the 4th XI's relegation, half the club was injured and we'd gone about four weeks without anyone winning a game. This time, it couldn't have been further from that disappointment: the 5th XI secured their highest-ever points tally, the 4th XI were promoted as champions, the 3rd XI finished second, the 2nd XI passed 100 points to finish fourth, the 1st XI finished a win away from our third-ever title.

But if we couldn't win it, then there's no one we'd rather see take it off us. All our congratulations to Stanmore and in particular to the Reingolds – a terrific club and a great cricket family, who have put so much into this and thoroughly deserved their win on the day.

We were magnificently represented by the usual 1st XI supporter pack, led by Jon Mundy, Pete Hollman and Dick Hersey, backed up by the 2nd and 3rd XIs, who travelled straight from quick victories at The Midd. Needless to say, we celebrated the night away regardless with over 100 people on-site for an impromptu firework display and barbecue, before the music kicked in.

There will be an end-of-season dinner on November 10 at Muswell Hill Golf Club, so look out for tickets when they go on sale. Please come along to that so that we can properly toast all that has been achieved.

As captains, honestly this season has been a joy: training turnouts have been exceptional, the whole vibe has been universally positive, the latest next generation has started to properly come through. This is everyone's club, no matter how many games you have played, no matter which team you've played them for. It's been a pleasure. See you on September 21 for a players' curry (ask Nick Friend for details) and then in November for winter nets as we get ready to go again…