Smother the pavilion in bunting and raise the club flag – we’ve reached the final episode in the series. We started all the way back in the 1950’s and have rocked up in 2011 to witness the club’s highest honour to date, champions of Essex Senior League division 2. A potent combination of talented home-grown players and the mercurial talent of Ahmed Khawaja led us to, an all too brief, period of challenging in the higher reaches of senior cricket in the county. The subsequent fall came hard and fast but we need not concern ourselves with latter years and instead enjoy a terrific season.

The summer of 2011 was dominated in the UK by the London riots, sparked by protests against the shooting of a man in North London by police. Elsewhere huge earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand and in Japan led to multiple fatalities. US military forces located and killed Osama bin Laden whilst the ‘Arab Spring’ in North Africa led to regime change in several countries including Egypt and Tunisia.

In sport, India became the first side to win a home cricket World Cup as they overcame Sri Lanka in the final. England’s test side had a good year beating Sri Lanka (1-0) and India (4-0) on home soil. Lancashire won the County Championship whilst Yorkshire managed to get themselves relegated. In football, Man United won a record-breaking league title by a whopping 9 points from Chelsea. Their City rivals won the FA Cup beating Stoke City and, amusingly for most of us, Birmingham beat Arsenal in the League Cup Final.

At Marigolds hopes were high for a good season. In paid player, Ahmed Khawaja, they possessed arguably the finest all-round cricketer to ever represent the club. Certainly, the consistency of his run scoring and wicket taking is unsurpassed in our history. In the 2010 season Ahmed had scored 1170 runs with the bat, a total that remains the highest single season aggregate. He holds all of the highest individual First XI innings records other than Jason McNally’s double century in 2019. He was also a highly effective bowler but in subsequent years he would be embroiled in controversy when called for ‘throwing’ on a number of occasions that led a diminished role within the side. For many, Khawaja was a divisive character. An outstanding cricketer but perhaps some would argue one who never fully embraced what it meant to be the figure head of the club off the field. Young Colts coming up through the club often had no idea who he was and he certainly didn’t contribute to the develop of the next generation of players although perhaps he would argue that it was never his job to do so.

Khawaja aside, this was far from a one-man team. Andy McGarry was a highly effective pace bowler and useful bat and Haris Afridi was a quality top order batsman who was more than handy with the ball. Home grown players Rehman Ahmed, Luke Heskett, Luke Monger and Nicky Baxter were all highly effective genuine quality First XI cricketers and much of the recent decline of the club’s fortunes arguably results from their loss as much as any hired gun.

The season began with the regular pre-season game against Broxbourne. Runs from Luke Monger (75) and Ahmed Khawaja (53) helped us to 209/7 before Haris Afridi led the bowling attack with 3-39 as we won by 37 runs. Haris was to ultimately make a significant contribution with the bat rather than ball during the league season.

The following week it was straight into competitive fixtures with the visit of Leigh on Sea in the Dukes League Cup. Batting first Leigh amassed 238-6 in 40 overs with skipper Heskett the pick of the bowling with 2-25 (8 overs) whilst Monger grabbed a brace as well. Our reply was in immediate trouble with the early loss of Khawaja and Luke Monger in single figures. Rehman steadied the ship before being run out on 49. Haris Afridi and Brian Kulasena chipped away effectively in the middle order adding 37 and 35 respectively but their dismissals led to a complete lower order collapse as we closed on 177 leaving 10 overs going to waste.

The cup defeat ensured we were back into friendly action prior to the league games commencing. Oakfield Parkonians came to Marigolds as Harlow edged a tight game by just 7 runs. Contributions throughout the order helped us to a total of 223 all out with Kulasena top scoring with 40. Parks made a fine start with 53 for the first wicket but were offered no easy run scoring opportunities as all the Harlow attack probed away proving to be difficult to score against. Matt Nobes spell of 3-34 (10 overs) was crucial backed up by Andy McGarry 2-38 (10) Luke Heskitt 1-25 (6) and Ahmed Khawaja 2-29 (8.5).

A trip to Hutton heralded our opening league fixture in Division Two and Harlow could not have made a better start in the field. After an over a piece from McGarry and Monger the home side were stunned on 0-2 with a wicket each for the seam bowlers. Hutton struggles continued and they were completely indebted to a 99-run partnership between Bull (74) and Barnes (44) as they reached 194 all out. Nicky Baxter, playing his first game of the season, the star on the day with 4-30 (10) but Luke Heskett (3-49) and Luke Monger (2-41) deserved a mention.

A new look opening partnership of Rehman Ahmed and Luke Monger added 63 for the first wicket and set the tone for a comfortable chase as we reached the target with over 10 overs to spare. Khawaja predictably top scored with 50 from 69 balls. A fine start to the campaign.

Most cricketers are aware that Stanhope le Hope has an eco-system of its own. It could be hosing down across Essex but something about the proximity to the Thames does strange things. One thing is for sure and that an early season visit there is likely to involve batting on a damp strip and so it proved for our second game of the league season. A lost toss saw us struggle to just 156 all out in 35 overs with wicket keeper Nino Calvino making a patient 38 and Luke Monger 24. The bowlers needed to produce something special and they certainly achieved that with the hosts rattled out for 96 with outstanding figures from McGarry (4-17), Heskett (3-17) and Monger (2-19).

Old Souths became the third victim in a row as batting first five Harlow players made scores between 30 and 50 (Calvino, Monger, Ramsey, Khawaja & Baxter) and despite no one going on to make a big score our total of 261-8 looked match winning. So, it proved as Souths could only reach 217 all out with wickets shared (Nobes the pick with 3-37).

Wickford were overcome thanks to a superb performance from Ahmed Khawaja who stepped up when a first league defeat threatened. He took three wickets along with Andy McGarry to restrict Wickford to 217 but two golden ducks for the openers put us on the back foot before Ahmed hit an outstanding 116*. Kulasena (33) and Heskett (24) made crucial contributions to see us to a 2 wicket win with Andy McGarry blocking out 21 balls without scoring to ensure Ahmed could do the required run scoring at the other end. Fourth win of the season and an early appearance at the top of the Division Two table.

Into June and a long trip to Leigh on Sea and a chance to avenge our cup exit. The hosts recovered superbly from 141-5 to post a very imposing 271-8 despite three wickets apiece for Heskett and Afridi. Special mention for Andy McGarry again as his new ball spell went for just 18 in 10 overs in stark contrast to the rest of the innings.

Chasing such a big total it was vital that the openers got amongst the runs and that was achieved by an outstanding knock from Rehman (88) and Khawaja (67). Afridi and Nobes knocked off the winning runs from the very last ball to ensure losing three middle order batsmen without scoring wasn’t allowed to derail a fifth straight victory. No doubt a few celebratory costal drinks that evening before heading west.

Horndon on the Hill were overcome comfortably by eight wickets with half centuries for Rehman and Khawaja. Before a virtual total wash out at Westcliff ended our run of consecutive wins.

All seemed to be nicely on track at Southend (blimey there was a lot of travelling that season) the following week as the home side fell from 75-0 to 171-9 in 52 overs. Sadly, for the first time that season our batting went missing. Only two players Afridi (17) and Andre Riddell (40) made double figures as we were heavily defeated.

Walthamstow conceded the following week (they withdrew prior to the season starting) before the Harlow batting demons resurfaced when chasing 175 to beat Hutton at Marigolds. Baxter and McGarry top scored with just 18 as we could only muster a disappointing 100 all out.

Another weather intervention saw us deprived of a chance to get back to winning ways before Leigh were back at Marigolds as we pressed for a much-needed turnaround in form.

Rehman (55) and Afridi (80) added 121 for the second wicket but thereafter the innings subsided once again with only Connor Ramsey (10) making double figures as we stumbled badly late on to make 179. With Leigh having made over 250 twice against us that season already a damaging defeat looked likely.

Step up Nicky Baxter, always one for a dogged fight in the field. The bustling Baxter took 6-44 in 11.5 overs supported by 3 wickets for Khawaja as the much-vaunted Leigh batting unit crumbled to just 117 all out. A tremendous win and a springboard for the rest of the season.

Khawaja took 4-9 and Afridi made 50 as we beat Stanford le Hope by 5 wickets and momentum was swinging back in Harlow’s direction with a further win at old Souths. Chasing 211 we lost Monger with the score on just 7 but a magnificent second wicket partnership between Rehman (93*) and Haris Afridi (104*) saw us home with plenty of overs in the bank.

A terrible performance at strugglers Horndon on the Hill was not what was expected as the batting again fell apart as Andy McGarry top scored with 28 out of our total of 85. Comfortable Horndon win.

Our fluctuating form continued against Westcliff as we won by 66 runs thanks to Rehman (64) and Luke Heskett (3-27) which with other results on the day was enough to secure promotion.

With our final league fixture on paper being Walthamstow, who had withdrawn from the league, what should have been our penultimate fixture became a league title decider against Southend. Thankfully they could get nowhere near to the level shown in comfortably beating us earlier in the season. Harlow made 261-5 with the top order all in the runs led by Khawaja (93), Afridi (47), and Monger (38). The visitors were completely on the ropes at 63-5 (Monger 3-24) when the weather intervened but with sufficient overs bowled DLS gave us the victory and the league title.

An incredibly strong run of early season league results was sufficient to counterbalance the mid-season batting induced defeats. A strong end of term series of wins was enough for Luke Heskett to lead the club into Division One for the only time in our history.

There was still time for a celebratory end of season friendly win over Sawbridgeworth – achieved on the back of a brutal Andy McGarry century with the bat despite some serious celebrating that Luke Heskett recalls were still going strong that Christmas.

It was a squad that one is entitled to suggest was the strongest in our history, certainly in the Essex Senior League era since 1971. Under the direction of Luke Heskett and subsequently Rehman Ahmed, the side competed well in Division One for five seasons, twice finishing as high as 4th, before suffering double relegations as key players drifted away from the side or were unable to match their exploits of previous seasons.

Looking at the title winning season of 2011, the batting had some fabulously good players but the age-old trait of collapsing when the key men didn’t perform existed then every bit as much as in recent seasons. Ahmed Khawaja, strangely in a title winning season, had his least productive year with the bat in league games (488 at 40.67) but still closed as our top run scorer. Rehman made 468 (at 39.00) and Haris Afridi 385 (at 55.00). Luke Monger was the only other batsmen to post over two hundred runs (205) but this was a season of 16 league games due to Walthamstow’s non-participation and several weather affected fixtures meant that most player only reached the crease on around 13 occasions.

Ahmed also ended as the leading wicket taker with 28. Nicky Baxter (23), Andy McGarry (20) and Luke Heskett (19) all performed well as did Luke Monger who collected 13 victims. This certainly was an incredibly strong bowling unit that had all the bases covered in terms of pace and slower/spin options.

I began the article with reference to the paid players and Ahmed Khawaja in particular. Statistically, he is unrivalled in the history of the club and current head coach and captain of the side for much of his stay, Luke Heskett, has little doubt that for long periods he was not just our best player but arguably the best player in the entire league. I would add this though. Paid players can be brought in funds permitting anytime. The most damaging loss to the fortunes of this club was the subsequent departure of our own home-grown players such as Rehman, Luke Heskett, Nicky Baxter and Luke Monger. The reasons vary and, in some cases, very little could have avoided it but add their ability and experience to the current young side and we would look a very different proposition.

Rehman Ahmed was and remains a classy, cultured top order batsman. Only Khawaja has scored more First XI runs for the club since Play Cricket records began. It was unfortunate that under the leadership of Rehman, after two successful season in Division One, the club was to suffer two relegation seasons. It says a lot about him that it was only at potentially the last possible moment in his career that he chose to take the opportunity to leave Harlow to play Premier Division cricket (in 2021) with Billericay. A hugely respected and popular man who remains a favourite across the entire club at Harlow CC.

Nicky Baxter always struck me as a fascinating cricketer. If ever the adage ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ applied to cricket – it was for Nicky. Probably the scruffiest player in modern history of the club, Nicky was an incredible competitive all-rounder. Capable of express pace bowling seam up, despite some persistent injury problems, he was a bustling handful with the new ball or at the death in the closing overs. That style applied with willow in hand with his scampering and 360 degree run scoring. Nicky was also a superb clubman. Many a current and former Colt benefitted from the many hours he put in with the youngsters. His move to Canada was a tremendous loss for the club and has never fully been replaced.

Luke Monger, another home-grown Colt who made the First XI at a young age, is one of my favourite cricketers I’ve seen in the baggy green of Harlow. Strong, barrel chested, with a wholehearted approach that made him a supporters and teammates dream. A determined allrounder who may I suggest was more Flintoff than Stokes (i.e., bowler before batsman). Capable of being sharp with the new ball, Luke had the ability to find that awkward short of a length ball after ball. With excellent technique Monger was a skilled batsman who batted in his Harlow career anywhere from opener to lower middle order. It was extremely disappointing to lose Luke to the Herts Premier side, Hoddesdon CC after the agony of missing out on promotion on the final day of the 2019 season. One hopes he decides to come ‘home’ in the near future.

Other young home-grown players to feature in 2011 were the likes of Connor Ramsey, Ant Webb, George Messenger and Andre Riddell. Alongside their illustrious teammates they had few opportunities to shine that season but all have successful playing records at the club with Andre virtually a permanent fixture behind the stumps over the past decade during which time he has claimed significantly more victims with the gloves than anyone on record. All named proved themselves to be part of a fabulous fielding unit backing up the bowling in those crucial tight games.

Final mention of the group must go to the captain – Luke Heskett. Luke was a talented youngster within the Essex County set up and had a cricket intelligence probably unrivalled at the club. Under his leadership the First XI prospered like never before but he was far more than a Mike Brierley type character. If someone was needed to make 20 or 30 to win a game, then he was your guy. If the opposition were threatening to run away with the bat, then he would come on and take 2 or 3 wickets at three an over and change the momentum. His loss from the club coincided with the terrible run of campaigns that saw us go from just outside the promotion places for a move up to the Premier Division to double drop into Division 3. In a move that shows signs of being incredibly insightful, Luke was brought back in 2021 as Head Coach to improve standards on the field and in training. His Emerging Players Programme has already led to four players aged under 21 reaching the First XI. Hopefully under his stewardship the current First XI can begin to steer a course back towards higher division cricket.

This article brings us to an end in the ‘Seasons from the Past’ series. I’m sure a couple of worthy candidates slipped through the net but hopefully many of our outstanding players and characters since WWII have had a mention and enjoyed reflecting on past glories. Its now up to the current generation to write their own piece of club history.