6 We've had a lot of Indians playing cricket in Ulster over the years. Has there been any contact with these players?
Yes, we have had good support, particularly from Sonny Singh and Niranjan Godbole. We also plan to meet up with a number of the professionals who have played in Ireland, including Rahul Mankad, who played with such distinction for Lurgan during the 1980s, and Jack Arunkumar who was the Downpatrick pro until quite recently.
7 Realistically what are your playing expectations, or are they of secondary importance to the overall experience of playing in this amazing country?
On this trip I think we have a team, which could give a good account of itself in the NCU Premier league. The bowling is certainly more balanced than some of the other trips and if we can score enough runs, we should be competitive. Ideally we want a standard of opposition, which is equal or slightly better than us, so that the younger players have to test themselves. It is always difficult to get the balance right, but both Sonny Singh and Niranjan Godbole know enough about Irish cricket to provide us with comparable opposition.
8 The Grasshoppers has a motley array of former players dating back to 1980 and that remarkable tour to South Africa. Do any of the 'founding fathers' keep in touch with the club?
It is remarkable just how many members from the first couple of Grasshopper trips still keep in touch and contribute financially through annual subscriptions or in the case of this trip, towards the costs of subsidising the six younger players. This tells me they still value the importance of this type of trip in developing cricket ability, and helping to shape the character of the younger players by understanding the value of friendships, which in many cases will last a lifetime.
9 Are there any plans on the horizon to celebrate 30 years of Grasshoppers cricket?
If the Grasshoppers play the seven scheduled games in India, it will take them to 97 matches since that first game back in 1981. It is a truly remarkable achievement for any touring club. Neil Watson who has been our key contract on three trips to South Africa, and is coming with us to India, is organising the Over-40s festival in Cape Town in 2010. Each participating team will play a minimum of three games. If the Grasshoppers were to take part, this would take them to one hundred games.
Andy Clement suggested to me a few weeks ago about taking a team out to the event, and after further discussion we thought this could become an excellent way to celebrate our “Centenary.” After all, it would be a nostalgic trip back to the country where it all began, and the icing on the cake would be if we could get some of the original 1981 touring party to travel, either to play, or simply enjoy the craic. The event is scheduled for only 7-10 days, which would hopefully fit into most people’s busy lives, but of course it could be longer. I will have further discussion with Neil Watson when we are in India, and then make some decisions when we get back.
10 Finally, Alan, you have been a great stalwart of local cricket. Are you enjoying the sport as much in 2009 as you did when you graduated through the mighty Waringstown ranks twenty years ago?
Yes, I am still enjoying the sport as I did when I first started playing for Waringstown. Probably the only time my enjoyment reduced slightly was the two years prior to my Achilles injury in 2003. I struggled through two seasons with several injuries, which were down to playing cricket, and rugby virtually non-stop for 25 years and it became an endurance test just to get through games. The irony of my Achilles injury was that I was in plaster for the best part of nine months which gave my other ailments a chance to heal properly, and the rehabilitation process I had to go through probably made me fitter and stronger than I had been for a few years. The period when I could not play also made me realise how important the game was in my life, and how much I missed not playing.
While getting back to play for Waringstown firsts was my major motivation in order to get through the many gym sessions needed build my leg up, the emergence at the Lawn of good young players like James Hall and Lee Nelson meant any future 1st XI appearances would be limited. I am now fortunate to play with a great group of guys on the 2nd XI and we all work hard to develop the younger players for the 1st XI.
If there was a positive message from the last thirty years I would pass on to others, it is that there are different ways to enjoy your sport, make friendships for life and experience different parts of the world. I was a pretty average cricketer who happened to be born close to the one of the best cricket clubs in Ireland, and was privileged to play alongside some of the best cricketers this country has produced. In addition, the Grasshoppers have provided me with the opportunity to play all over the world, including Test grounds Eden Park andSnedden Parkin New Zealand, Newlands inSouth Africa and Beausejour inSt Lucia, all for which I am eternally grateful.
It has been a wonderful experience with hopefully more to follow.
