...who have been less that complimentary about the NCU Executive Committee’s decision to stage the 2011 Senior Cup Final at Wallace Park. The decision was taken to honour the club in its 175th anniversary, but some players felt the ground has gone back so much in recent years that it is not the most suitable venue for a match of this status.
Lisburn’s right to stage the match is without question given the longevity of the club and its huge contribution to both Irish and NCU cricket, on and off the pitch. There can be no more worthy recipient of the honour of staging the NCU showpiece than a club that has been at the forefront of local cricket for so many years. Some may argue it sets a precedent, but step forward the next club to celebrate its 175th birthday and let the Executive Committee make the next decision on its merit. Reaching 175 years is a monumental achievement and as the oldest surviving cricket club in Ulster, Lisburn have earned their special status.
But the criticism remains and it was re-ignited last week with the premature postponement of the league fixture. Perhaps it was alarming that the match should be called off early because of water damage with brilliant overhead conditions, but those who work on grounds know better than anyone if recovery can be obtained short-term or long-term. It seems the Lisburn decision may have been taken too early, but the chances of play at the scheduled time were going to be minimal in any case. That apart, the real issue is whether the club can learn from the experience to ensure the cup final goes ahead without any similar problems. Faulty covers and bad weather were the issues with the league game, and to their credit the club has come out strongly with assurances that they will not be found wanting in their promotion of the cup final. After all, the NCU is also in celebratory mode with 125 years existence this season.
There was a time when Wallace Park was one of the best cricket grounds in Ulster and one of its most popular venues. It has a special atmosphere and is a genuine cricket theatre where local people meandering through the park stop to watch the cricket amidst their everyday lives. The ground has staged dozens of cup games and representative matches for over a century, so it has a special place in NCU archives. It also has a proud and committed membership who will leave no stone unturned to ensure the 2011 final is one to remember for all the right reasons, and one man who will be at the forefront of that commitment needs no introduction to anyone in local sport.
Cecil Walker, MBE, has been in the Lisburn Cricket Club engine-room for over 60 years and his word is his bond on any subject. The former President of the Irish Cricket Union and the Northern Cricket Union has been a Trojan for both club and unions over many decades, and amazingly Cecil still works on the ground almost daily. It is his commitment and dedication within the Lisburn committee that will ensure Wallace Park delivers on and off the field on the day.
Don’t write off Lisburn because of a few rainy days. This club has a proven pedigree and some fine cricket people who will deliver.
We wish them well and thank them for their enterprise.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
