Going up ! Fair Oak clinched the Southern Premier League Division 2 runners-up spot (behind runaway champions Hambedon) in a dramatic finale to the 2024 season.
Fair Oak's cricketers have been given the go-ahead to play in the second tier of the Southern Premier League next summer - the highest level in which the club has ever competed.
By snatching the Division 2 runners-up spot in a dramatic finale to the past season, Oaks earned an improbable promotion, a remarkable achievement for a team that lost five of its opening six matches.
In total contrast to their woeful start, Fair Oak won their last seven games with a nail biting victory at New Milton on the final day of the season propelling them into second place by just 0.15 of a point after promotion rivals Langley Manor and Portsmouth & Southsea both lost.
Oaks will join runaway champions Hambledon in Division 1 next May and will rub shoulders with the likes of Havant, Hook & Newnham Basics, OTs & Romsey, Sarisbury Athletic and Ventnor on a totally new look fixture list.
Promotion has climaxed exciting times for Fair Oak, whose ground at Lapstone Park is under-going a total revamp, with a brand new square being laid in front of the 1998-built pavilion, which will become fully operational.
Work has been underway for some time on the project which will see two cricket squares at the ground, alongside a two-lane net practice facility, and a new pitch-side pavilion for the second square, which Oaks first and second teams have been using.
The project has been funded by Eastleigh Borough Council, with the full support of Fair Oak Parish Council and endorsed by the ECB Facilities Team.
By snatching the Division 2 runners-up spot in a dramatic finale to the past season, Oaks earned an improbable promotion, a remarkable achievement for a team that lost five of its opening six matches.
In total contrast to their woeful start, Fair Oak won their last seven games with a nail biting victory at New Milton on the final day of the season propelling them into second place by just 0.15 of a point after promotion rivals Langley Manor and Portsmouth & Southsea both lost.
Oaks will join runaway champions Hambledon in Division 1 next May and will rub shoulders with the likes of Havant, Hook & Newnham Basics, OTs & Romsey, Sarisbury Athletic and Ventnor on a totally new look fixture list.
Promotion has climaxed exciting times for Fair Oak, whose ground at Lapstone Park is under-going a total revamp, with a brand new square being laid in front of the 1998-built pavilion, which will become fully operational.
Work has been underway for some time on the project which will see two cricket squares at the ground, alongside a two-lane net practice facility, and a new pitch-side pavilion for the second square, which Oaks first and second teams have been using.
The project has been funded by Eastleigh Borough Council, with the full support of Fair Oak Parish Council and endorsed by the ECB Facilities Team.
