You must be very proud to have reached this high office. What does it mean to you and your club?
Yes - really proud - to me it's a real privilege to be voted in by the NCU clubs to be their Chairman - it's not often you get an opportunity like this so I'll try and do it justice. Hopefully as far as Muckamore goes it will give me an opportunity to showcase the club and its many attributes as and when I can - I know the Club as a whole are delighted that I've been made Chairman and knowing the people down there I can be guaranteed 100% support from them during my time in post and no doubt 100% "advice" from them if I get anything wrong!
There has been a tradition with previous NCU Chairmen to keep the ship on course rather than enter new waters? Is this how you see your role going forward?
Well I think you always have to keep an eye on where you are going but it doesn't mean you can't and shouldn't look at different ways of getting there - I see myself as someone who won't be scared to put ideas on the table to let clubs decide whether they may be good for NCU Cricket or not and I know the three new Directorates are already looking at how we as a union might do that. Equally, I won't be afraid to challenge where challenge is necessary or give help from the Union in areas where help is most needed. After all it's not about me - it's about me trying to help promote the NCU and the game of cricket in both new and existing areas.
When your two-year term of office is over what achievements do you want to see credited to your stewardship?
I think if someone somewhere comes up to me and says thanks for trying my hardest that will do for me because as I mentioned before its not about me. I hope people will have seen me as approachable, visible, neutral, and someone who was in the post for the betterment of cricket. Yes I hope we've got more people playing cricket, more clubs starting up, our existing clubs growing stronger, more NCU players playing for Ireland at adult and junior level, the Northern Knights being the best Interpro team at all levels and probably a load more things, but I don't think anyone can achieve the complete bucket list in what is actually a very short space of time. Having said that, a new domestic Cricket Development Officer is a target I hope to achieve over the short to medium term - that will be a failure for me if that doesn't happen - it's of vital importance that the Union is seen to help all our clubs by getting additional resources in place.
Cricket Ireland now has control over all cricket in Ireland. Has this diluted the strength of the NCU and stifled its vision and growth?
No, I don't think so and I don't think Cricket Ireland has or wants control over all cricket in Ireland. The NCU is a very strong union and there is appreciation from within Cricket Ireland that our union and clubs have the resources and expertise to help them to deliver their strategic aims. There might be at times be an easy way out for the NCU to say it's "Cricket Ireland's job to do this and that" but I certainly have a realisation that we need to paddle our own canoe to achieve what's best for us and also cricket within Ireland. The Finance & Policy Directorate are nearing the end of developing an NCU Strategy 2014-18 and I know that this strategy will showcase the vision and potential growth of all things NCU-related over the forthcoming years.
Would you accept there is a growing apathy amongst many NCU clubs and the sport is struggling to develop in the modern era?
Yes and No. I'm of the opinion that clubs generally put themselves first, but they may be missing a beat and sometimes fail to see the bigger picture and opportunities that Cricket within NCU, Ireland and beyond offers. It's vital that clubs still try and involve as many "volunteers" as possible. Leaving all things cricket to the overseas professional or the running of the club to just one or two individuals makes it much harder for the club to move forward and grow. Individuals from clubs certainly appear to have lots of ideas judging by social media, so hopefully they will share those with myself and the Union directly as we don't have all the answers all the time. Moving cricket forward is a journey we all need to share together.
Recent AGMs have been mundane and routine, yet as you allude to, throughout the year a number of website correspondents air excellent topics for discussion and debate. Why do you think there is such a big disconnect? After all, the AGM is where decisions are made.
I take your point, but why shouldn't AGMs be mundane? Regarding the disconnect, I could take the view that because of the vastly improved communication process the Union has instigated over the last number of years such as the road-shows, re-restructuring of leagues etc that clubs are happy with their lot and it's only the exceptional circumstances that crop up during the year that cause discussion and debate. However, the flip side is that maybe your last question was right and clubs don't care, but I sincerely hope my first view is the correct one. Looks like I'll have to test the water over the next two years to see which one is right!
These are tough economic times, but many sports still prosper with strong support from the business community. The NCU has had many very loyal sponsors down through the years, but the level of sponsorship is relatively small outside the Ulster Bank. Looking at the NCU coffers is this an area where we could do better?
Yes, and the NCU Board has already made big strides to do this and I'm confident that we will be in a position to announce new sponsors soon. Having said that, it is an area, which we must continue to prioritize in order to invest in our youth and grow the game. Perhaps there will be someone out there who reads this article that might be interested in becoming a sponsor. I'm always available to discuss sponsorship opportunities and it doesn't always have to be generated by Union officers. There are many former players who have done well in business and could put some funds back into the game without breaking the bank. I'd welcome them coming forward and supporting our work.
Cricket Ireland has gone professional on and off the field. Will the NCU be forced down a similar road in the future to survive?
I think we already are professional, but we just don't get paid for it! The time commitment for those involved within the Union (and those within our clubs) is phenomenal and it's a business in all but name. Moving forward we might have to look at salaried employee(s) as money from the ICC filters its way through to Cricket Ireland and into the NCU. However, salaried positions will only happen if it is the best and most appropriate way forward for the Union as a whole.
Are you concerned about rampant professionalism within the local game and the fact that the NCU is virtually powerless to police it?
More yes than no. I don't understand the logic of paying out more than you can potentially win, but on the flip side it's not my money that clubs are spending so who am I to tell them what to do? Having said that I am encouraging the NCU Domestic Directorate to look at ways of utilising overseas players to our advantage. I'd like them to spend some time assisting Nigel Jones in coaching sessions or the likes of the Play Smart scheme. I think it is only right that the NCU should also benefit from those who ply their trade within our union.
Can we ever police it? - I'm relatively new to the Union compared to some, but I'm old enough to know it's a debate that has been going on for over 30 years and no matter what rules have been introduced clubs have found a way round most of them so the answer is probably not. Perhaps the questions clubs could be asking themselves is how they can ensure their own young players continue to play cricket for their club and invest time and money in that?
What are you main priorities over the next few months?
To try and get an appropriate Bye-Law through the NCU Board to ensure Muckamore win the Premier League in 2014!!!!!!
And to name a few others including:
Doing my best to get an additional Development Officer recruited as soon as possible, to look at increasing the number of sponsors, launching the new NCU Academy, looking at how we might recruit more Umpires within the NIACUS and obviously praying for good weather throughout the season. The list is endless and when the 2014-18 Development Strategy document is released over the next couple of months I hope people will see that the Union is very proactive in the promotion of cricket across the NCU area and beyond.
THANKS AND GOOD LUCK ANDY.
