6 In your NCU role you have recently sent out a circular to get feedback from the clubs on key issues affecting the current game. Does this mean your committee has been out of touch with grassroots?
No, quite the opposite really. I’d like to think that the development directorate and which currently consists of myself, Brian Walsh, Alan Waite, Ryan Haire, Billy Dale, David Edwards, Neil Hunter, Ian Johnston, Andy McCrea and Richard Clingan, know exactly what is or isn’t going on in grassroots cricket. Sending a questionnaire out to all first eleven captains in the top two leagues was to try and get feedback from the cricketers who play the game, rather than the committees who run the respective clubs. We seemed to be getting one message from the players and a different one if any, from the clubs themselves. As I’ve said, it was just to try another avenue of communication. Prior to the recent questionnaire, which our directorate drafted up, the NCU had sent out potential league restructuring proposals to all senior clubs for comment. I think we got nine replies out of a possible 37 – so less than 25% of clubs bothered to respond. People will judge themselves if they think that’s good enough, but going to the captains/players themselves we got all bar a couple of clubs to respond. I think it’s part of my role to get feedback from those that play the game, because without that, it will be much harder to try and improve and develop all cricket under the NCU banner.
7 Change won’t come without strong support from clubs at the AGM. Do you feel the club delegates give the issues the importance they deserve when it comes to making the big decisions a month after the season has finished?
No, hence why the NCU has gone public some time ago with information on what some of the proposals will be at this year’s forthcoming AGM. It’s essential that everyone sees early what is going to be proposed so that a balanced and constructive view can be taken. I’d hate to think that some of those who attend the meeting wouldn’t have discussed the likes of the Eight-team league proposal, with the people who actually play the game, and to evaluate the reasons behind the proposal. Equally, I’d hate to see self-preservation or self interest from clubs come into play either, and that proposals are shot down just for that reason. For example, the Eight-team league proposal will be an interesting one this year, because in the recent questionnaire that we issued, there was a fair majority of the clubs within the top two sections in favour of it. I’d urge everyone who will be attending the AGM from their club to ensure that all proposals have been discussed fully prior to the meeting. I think players want change, so it would be reasonable to expect to see delegates voting accordingly to reflect their wishes.
8 In your opinion has the general standard of local cricket declined at a time when the national squad is doing so well with a strong contingent of NCU players within its ranks?
Yes, there’s no doubt about it. Anyone watching NCU cricket now compared to less than 10 years ago can see that the standard is well below what it was then. Its absolutely fantastic what the national squad has achieved and are continuing to achieve. Huge credit must go to those involved and long may their success continue. However, speaking from a personal point of view, there appears to be an ever-increasing gap between the top local cricketers and the rest of those that play senior cricket. I hope that the development directorate can assist in starting to reverse this trend in the future.
9 As a leading NCU official how do you feel when the union gets a lot of stick on cricket websites from people you never see or hear other than on the forums?
Public forums are public forums and I think it’s great that cricketers and non-cricketers alike, have the opportunity to express their opinion, so what is written about the NCU doesn’t bother me too much. I volunteered for my post like all NCU officials do, so as long as it doesn’t get personal, then I think we are fair game. However, I have to admit that some comments challenge me, especially if I know who’s written it, and that they should know better!
Decisions by NCU officials have to be made whether popular or not, and I think the majority of people out there respect that all decisions that are made with honesty and integrity. We are trying to improve getting messages to our target audience, but don’t forget that all the NCU officials have other things to do in their normal everyday lives and can’t respond at the drop of a hat to the varying demands put on the “forums.”
One thing that always amuses me is people labelling me a “suit” and a “G&T person! For anyone who knows me at all, that’s as far off the mark as you’ll ever get!
10 If you could change one thing in local cricket at the flick of a switch what would it be?
Paddy O’Hara????????
Nah, we couldn’t change him with just one flick could we?
It would have to be the standard of wickets, the majority of which are not of a consistently high standard. If I had the choice on how money was spent at a club it would be to ensure that the most important person (i.e. the groundsman) got the necessary funds for more and better machinery/equipment/covers or whatever they actually needed. As a result of this, better wickets would produce better batting and bowling and might ensure that most match results are determined by the 22 players on show, and not by inconsistent wickets. It intrigues me as to why clubs pay £1000s every year for overseas batsmen when they can’t produce their best performances due to inconsistent wickets. Equally, better wickets might help to improve the ever decreasing standard of local bowlers by forcing them to bowl consistently well, instead of the wicket doing it all for them.
Thanks Andy.
