The number of regular umpires in the NCU has dramatically dropped to 28 on a good day and somewhat less when holidays kick in. Admittedly there are some part-time stalwarts who help out on occasions, but these are worrying times for local cricket and I’m sure the unflappable Ian Houston is uncharacteristically jumping up and down every Friday evening at the prospect of a late cry-off. “Houstie” remains one of the NCU’s unsung heroes week in, week out. His role is now akin to the 4th XI captain running around frantically at the eleventh hour to fill vacancies from a depleted larder with the rest of the team sitting in their cars about to depart for an away game. Fourth Eleven captains will understand the dilemma, as there are few more demanding roles in a club than skipper of the basement team.
The decline in umpiring numbers has been steady over the past few years and various appeals have been made to lure former players back into the game and to source part-time umpires from current players and administrators. There has been some success with the recruitment of Howard Bingham, Jimmy Ireland, Wylie McKinty, Ivan McCombe and Billy Adams, but a lot more needs to be done and to be done sooner rather than later. All five recruits bring a wealth of experience and integrity to the umpiring fraternity, but there must be a lot of others out there who could swell the numbers. After all, top umpires like Mark Hawthorne and Paddy O’Hara have shown that the path to the top may offer a lot more potential than as player and for many local cricketers it could see them reach international status.
We must support our umpires or the game will self-destruct. One place to start is to regularly visit their website www.niacus.co.uk and see how much work these guys put into the game on and off the field. The site is an Aladdin’s Cave of cricket gems and highlights everything and everyone connected to local umpiring. It also lists the Saturday appointments and has a plethora of interesting features and archives.
And the cost to view is nothing! You can’t get much better value than that.
Several umpire recruitment drives have fallen on hard ground over the past decade, but there has to be a solution or the game will come a cropper. Perish the thought of senior cricket without neutral umpires and if anyone doubts the potential danger then watch a junior or minor match without umpires and see some appalling bias and poor sportsmanship from players. We all wish it was different, but sadly that’s the reality in many, but not all matches down the club. Unfortunately there aren’t enough sporting stalwarts around to kill off the bias but we live in hope.
Much of the focus on neutral umpires will be centred on senior cricket so something needs to be done urgently. There’s no point arguing about overseas professionals, and international ground allocations if you can’t supply umpires at grassroots. Obviously the solution is not a simple one and the need for joint initiatives is a must to rectify the problem. Clubs must source and nominate new umpires, the umpires themselves must increase their stock, and finally, the governing bodies of cricket must take the lead in proving initiatives. Ownership of the problem has to be at the highest level and hopefully NCU Vice-Chairman Andy Clement and his development committee will give this major problem the highest priority before we sink deeper into the doldrums.
The number of umpires four years ago was in the region of sixty so something is seriously wrong. However, looking at the umpires’ website you can’t blame the hardcore of enthusiasts that remain because there are doing a great job. Sadly, the list of missing faces has left a vacuum and to them we offer our sincere thanks for their service and some great memories. The reasons of their absence are diverse and understandable, as some have passed to a higher calling. But the game is a lot poorer for the absence of Peter White, Jimmy McCall, Ted Cooke, Sylvan Reid, Ivan Reid, Jim Morrow, Paul Boreland, Norman Browne, Jim Wiseman, Alan Waugh, Bob Kane, Brian Angus, John Boomer Johnny Briggs, Ernie McCormick and Trevor Magee.
New faces must be recruited to fill the gaps and protect the integrity of our local game.
Rally ‘round the umpires and give Houstie some much-needed support.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
