Both clubs are ambitious, and while North Down has been at the top of NCU club cricket for the past decade, CI is a club on the rise with a formidable team built around a chequebook recruitment strategy. This is not a criticism, as CI have the right to determine their own destiny, and their approach isn’t too far off their opponents at various times over the past twenty years. And fair credit to the cup finalists for both their enterprise and their success, as cricket has to move forward, and despite the economic doom and gloom that prevails in modern times, there are still businesses making money and potential sponsors out there. They are just a little more difficult to find.
The NCU Senior Challenge Cup dates back to 1887 and it has been the backbone of the union since inception. It has always appealed to club cricketers and while the league competition spread over a season will always reward the best teams for their consistency, the knockout culture of the cup narrows success to a one-off game and the chance for the minnow to topple the mighty. And therein lies the huge appeal of the senior cup to both players and spectators as it has a finish, and of course, the spectacle of a final with all its associated media hype. In contrast the league outcome is often drawn out to the last days of the season when interest is at its lowest, and the weather plays as big a part in the outcome as does the relative strength of the teams.
But despite the opportunity of toppling a cricket giant, it is amazing that over 123 years, the same small group of clubs have continued to consistently win the competition. CIYMS represent the new era, but it was no accident that the semi-finals of this year’s competition also included Waringstown, Civil Service North (incorporating North of Ireland CC) and North Down, as these three clubs top the all time winners table over all those years. Cup tradition means a lot as these clubs, and their cup fighting tradition has won them many a game against the odds down the years.
The Senior Cup has also been blessed with some excellent sponsors over the years, but it has lost some of its sparkle with the absence of a major sponsor in 2010. In fairness to the NCU a sponsor appeared to be in place at the start of the season, but it didn’t happen and no contingency was in place. What a pity as the whole competition suffers, not least the big matches in the latter stages. If some clubs can splash out thousands of pounds in building strong teams, then surely the union can find a sponsor for its premier competition? If not, then let’s get these clubs on board and find out what they are doing right on the commercial side of their cricket business and share part of it.
Local cricket has also been fortunate to have excellent journalists to promote the game and despite the pressure from other sports, Ian Callender, Alistair Bushe and Robin Walsh have been superb in giving cricket a strong presence on the sports pages of the major papers. But they need the help of the clubs, the union and the sponsors, as no competition can thrive without everyone pulling in the same direction. The senior cup has lost some of its glamour in recent times, but a good sponsor, better marketing, prize money, corporate hospitality and match entertainment, including spectator involvement, could go a long way to lifting the bar.
There are three weeks to the final in Comber, so let’s hope the NCU think-tank is already planning a spectacle worthy of the occasion, and that both clubs prepare and approach the match with all the importance the occasion deserves. It is a great honour for a club cricketer to play in a cup final at any level, so the senior cup final should have special appeal to all cricketers. Over the years many of the neutrals have disappeared from the showpiece, but let’s promote the game to them as well and bring the final back to its rightful place as the showpiece of local cricket.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
