When City United quick Joey Mead charges in against Old Boys in the one-day final at No 1 Oval on Friday night, his father will feel immense "pride".

And not just because the 17-year-old has morphed into one of the region's best young bowlers.

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"I'm very proud of the young man he's become," said the City captain, adding that the year 12 Farrer student, vice-captain of the school, "has the respect of his peers and the older gentlemen as well" in the game.

One of those "older gentlemen" is Mead. On the cusp of his 50th birthday, the primary school teacher did not think he would get the chance to play again with his eldest son when the teen was elevated to first grade.

(He had played lower-grade cricket with him, as well as his youngest son, 15-year-old Nick.)

"So it's been a good thing that I can probably finish playing with Joey again in the top grade. That was never a plan."

The Manilla-born veteran acknowledged that playing with his son is "something that doesn't happen to many fathers".

"So we'll take that as a cherished time, and we'll have that for ever."

He added: "I'm probably a bit hard on him at times [on the field] because I'm his father as well."

At No 1 Oval on Friday, City United will be eyeing their first silverware in more than a decade.

The long process required to nurture a winning mentality in the side gathered momentum under Brad Smith and has been maintained since he handed the captaincy to Mead last season.

Mead said his return to first grade was done "to take pressure" off opener Smith "so he could just play".

This season Smith has scored 137 runs in four one-day innings, at an average of 45.67 and with a highest score of 62 not out.

Undefeated City finished atop the one-day ladder.

Mead, who experienced the protracted lean years at the club, said City were "really pushing" to break their title drought.