Of course, there will be the usual circuit of club dinners and AGMS to navigate, but for all intensive purposes the formalities are over and we can turn our attention to the rumour service of moves next season, Ireland’s performances in New Zealand, Ulster rugby exploits and the resurrection of the Northern Ireland Football team. Plenty of action anticipated over the winter, albeit with the whites packed away, although our hard-working officials might have a different programme as the administration soldiers 24/7 in preparation for next season.
Post-season reviews are often subjective, but for the purpose of reflection it is useful to look back and consider what has gone well and what has not.
The weather was kind so disruptions were not too serious although the way the Senior Challenge Cup Final prematurely ended ruined an exciting climax and thankfully a rule change has been addressed to deal with it better in the future. On the field it is a matter of opinion whether the standard at the highest level is improving or not, but there are serious challenges fielding teams down the leagues and on several occasion 1st XI matches were cancelled, a matter of serious concern going forward. Many people lament the absence of young players playing senior cricket and prominent club officials have explained it is because they are not good enough so something is seriously wrong with both schools cricket and youth cricket at certain clubs.
Pre-season favourites Waringstown collected no trophies, but they were in the mix in everything and have more reason than other clubs to curse their bad luck on several occasions. Instonians won the Senior League title and Civil Service North the Senior Cup, but our best performance in the Irish Senior Cup was a semi-final place for North Down and an amazing collapse to eventual winners The Hills when a victory looked assured. The Ulster Cup went North West and our Interprovincial team performed in fits and starts, which was reflected in inconsistent results. That said, they prepared well and appeared to include all our best players so hopefully they will learn from the experience and perform better next season.
The overseas professionals debate made a comeback and although the NCU AGM voting confirmed there is still a place for them in local cricket, their presence will be limited and controlled. The NCU administration took the lead in bringing the debate to the AGM with a series of motions and all of them were passed with one exception.
Understandably the Premier League clubs voted against paying a levy for the privilege of having overseas professionals, an absurd proposal that created an obvious division amongst the top clubs and the clubs in the lower sections. The separation of senior and junior cricket was removed at the 1975 AGM after a 50-year fight by the junior clubs, but if it is felt by the administration that their interests should be treated separately once again then perhaps a motion should be put to the AGM to bring back the Senior Committee to deal exclusively with Premier League cricket and a Junior Committee to deal with other cricket. And before anyone kicks that concept out too quickly, give it some consideration as the vision, culture and the structure of Premier League cricket is significantly different than the majority of clubs in the lower sections. The current situation whereby each group votes on issues totally related to the other doesn’t sit comfortably in the current environment.
Celebrity Guest Speaker Robert Croft was entertaining at the Annual Dinner and with over 200 people present the function appears to be fighting back after a recent decline in popularity. At the risk of offending anyone I would respectfully ask the organizers to use the services of an accomplished MC to ensure continuity, place the podium in a position where every table can see the speakers, hold back the announcement of some of the individual winners until the dinner to create more anticipation and if the Newsletter Team of the Year is to be officially recognized by the Union then the NCU should play a part in the selection of the team to increase its credibility and status. These are constructive suggestions and not criticisms, but it is worth remembering that at its height of popularity over 400 people used to attend this function. That said, it is still a great night to meet genuine cricket people, share a drink and a conversation with friend and foe and honour the winners of our competitions in a respectful and fitting manner.
Attendances at club matches and representative matches remain a major challenge, but until clubs make a serious effort to improve spectator facilities they will reap what they sow. Facilities at most grounds are appalling.
Plenty to think about and reflect upon over the winter although I stress these are only the views of one humble cricket lover.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
