Club tours played a big part in the history of Irish cricket clubs, but it seems they are a thing of the past. Perhaps it is the cost or the fixture list or family holidays or whatever but Club tours are now few and far between, although the Ulster Grasshoppers are still flying the flag. Of course, there is a good following of Ireland supporters thanks to the rise of the national team in the last 20 years, but it’s not of the same ilk as a tour! Club tours were always special, the mix of the junior ranks of average players, but a great to boost to team spirit within the club.
In the Twenties and Thirties some of the top clubs, like North Down and North of Ireland, toured in England and Scotland and pre-season were popular in Dublin and the North-West. The hosts were cordial and although matches were competitive, it was not life or death -win or lose. In those days the tours were essentially social and friendly, and stories abound on these trips. North Down toured to Blackpool in the 1930s and one scribe wrote a witty song that included all their names and character to the tune of the “Mountain of the Mournes”.
In due course representative teams ventured further afield which for many players were the highlight of their cricketing career. The North-West, Mid-Ulster Group and NCU had memorable tours- North-West to Trinidad in 1975, arranged by Invitation from Chairman John Hunter and Deryck Murray the great West-Indies wicketkeeper. The NCU toured to Bermuda in 1986 to mark the Centenary Year.
The North-West trip was the highlight for many players and captured the imagination of the public with a plethora of committees-coordinating, fundraising, brochure, and publicity in their preparations. Secretary Joe McCarter was the Manager, and their players included Irish Internationals Roy Torrens, Ossie Colhoun, Aubrey Finlay, Tommy Hapur, Raymond Moan, Billy Millar, Shaun Bradley and two others Clarke Nicholl and Cyril Ward, that should have been capped.
Formed in 1963, the Mid-Ulster Cricket Group toured to USA, Israel and Cyprus superbly organized by stalwart Ireland fast bowler Wesley Ferris. And again, by Invitation from the founder, it was a mixture of North-West and NCU players. Wesley’s tour party in 1978 were invited as opposed to selected, but the friendships and camaraderie has continued for over 48 years. Ireland International Alfie Linehan was also Captain of the party which included Dean Simpson, Clarence Hiles, Tom Guy, Brian Ferris, Alfie Conn, Cyril Ward, Shaun Bradley and the inimitable- Connie McAllister. What a character, and later to become North-West President for over a decade.
The NCU party was very different as it was selected and included some of the best players in that era-Paul Jackson, Stephen Warke, Ross McCollum, Garfield Harrison, Paul McCrum, Brian Miller, Adrian Semple to name but a few and managed by the inimitable Jimmy Boyce, President Jim McMorran and Chairman Alfie Linehan. The results were mixed but in the final match the NCU were heavily beaten by the locals by 101 runs. The Bermuda match was the ‘Test match’ but despite defeat, it was the pinnacle of the Centenary Celebration.
Without doubt the Ulster Grasshoppers were the touring teams for over 45 years that travelled all over the world with a series of tours that included players from NCU, North-West, Leinster and Cork. John Elder was deservedly credited with the birth of Grasshoppers and the other ‘founding fathers’ were Graham Crothers, Dixon Rose, Phillip Billingsley and Simon Corlett. But over the years several players accepted the mantle, including Alan Waite, Neil Russell, Sam Beckett, Andrew Cowden, Wally Graham, Andy Clement and Ricky Finlay.
The inaugural tour to South Africa in 1981 was a Who’s Who of Irish International players that included Dermott Monteith, John Elder, Stephen Warke, Paul Jackson, Alfie Linehan, Simon Corlett, Graham Crothers, Chris Harte, umpire Maurice Moore and a bevy of Inter-pro players. It was the period when international cricket was banned in South Africa although there was no ban for the players as it was a private tour, but it didn’t avoid the barrage of abuse from the pro-Apartheid campaign. Ireland Cricket Union Secretary Derek Scott was the recipient for most of the correspondence, although he was never involved. Sorry Derek!
The Grasshoppers were welcomed by the legendary Ali Bacher, and they played against former South Africa captain Roy McClean and former New Zealand captain John Reid.
No cricket nomads could exist for over 45 years without stalwarts at the helm and the Grasshoppers Club has been fortunate to have some of the best administrators in Irish cricket at the helm for over four decades. The club may lack the physicality of a formal location, but its permanency has been guaranteed by the commitment and vision of its members.
Several clubs have toured in the past 30 years, but sporadic, and it seems they now rely on supporters following the national team. Two are exceptions - North Down and the NCU who travelled to the Channel Islands and South Africa in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
JCH
