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Cricket Ireland pandering to the bigger 'professional' clubs as usual I see.
The second and third rounds of the Irish Senior Cup on a Saturday.
No doubt to make way for insipid, unattended Interpros.
Once was the biggest club competition in Ireland - now just an afterthought.
correction i think it would be very well attended
why doesnt the ncu have an open net session say for two or three nights a week during the winter for 3 or four hours inviting allcomers im sure they would be snapped up by willing clubs and have it at jordanstown i dont think it would be well attended just an idea
What an absolute inspiration to all who love our game. Hope to see you on the pitch in 2016 Sir William Dale
Congratulations to Billy "Bumper" Dale on his 50 seasons as a player in NCU cricket. What must make his achievement all the more remarkable is the fact that the vast majority of his games have been at 1st XI level.
It's interesting that his first game in senior cricket involved 25 overs into a force 8 gale at Eaton Park. Billy also tells us that he's hoping for a back-to-back promotion with Cooke Collegians next summer.
But, Billy, be careful what you wish for. If you do go up again next season, you could end up in 2017 back exactly where you started 51 years previously - bowling into the same force 8 gale at Eaton Park.!!
On behalf of the officers and players of Cregagh CC I would like to pass on our condolences to the family of Ossie Bailie after the end of his great innings.
Despite it being c 70 years since he played at 'Daddy Winkers Lane' Ossie's name is still remembered at Cregagh,indeed he features prominently in a photo of the Senior League winning team that proudly hangs in our club.
I had the good fortune to meet him during our centenary celebrations in 2006 and you could tell even then that he must have been a formidable opponent to play against.
Sad day indeed Carson.
Ossie was a legend throughout Ulster sport and you have captured him beautifully in your tribute. He had a great innings and he'll be remembered throughout Ulster cricket for his competitive spirit and at Ballymena for his outstanding service over many years.
Rest in peace Ossie.
I am sure that cricketers "of a certain vintage" will learn with sorrow of the passing of Ossie Bailie - sportsman of many abilities, soccer, cricket, tennis and more latterly bowls. A remarkable life story playing football with Belfast Celtic, cricket for Cregagh, Ballymena and occasionally Muckamore. I had the experience of captaining a 3rd XI when both he and his late son Gavin were in the side along with a few other Ballymena "characters" of the time. Ossie was always ready to give - but reluctant to receive - advice to and from those guys! Of Ossie it truly can be said "he played the game".
Many of your older readers will be saddened to hear of the death of Ossie Bailie . Ossie passed away in hospital this morning at the age of 92.
While most of his cricket career was spent with Ballymena, Ossie first came to notice as a member of a strong Cregagh side in the late 1940s. He also had a short spell at Muckamore before returning to his home-town club Ballymena in the early 1950s.
For the next 25 years, quite a few on them as captain, Ossie played a huge role in Ballymena's rise from the lower reaches of the Qualifying Leagues to senior cricket. To us at Eaton Park he was a "Brian Close-type" cricketer - a highly-competitive no-frills all-rounder who always seemed to be at his best in tight situations.
Remarkably,one of his last games was the 1974 Senior Cup Final when, at the age of 51, he scored 14 and 17 against the brilliant Waringstown side of that era.
Ossie was a genuine all-round sportsman - a fine soccer goal-keeper for Belfast Celtic, Cliftonville and Ballymena and a lawn tennis player good enough to represent Ulster.
The phrase " we shall never see his like again" is sometimes over-used but I think it is appropriate to-day.
.
Looking forward to cricket season 2016!
Why?
I made my debut for Civil Service C.C. in 1966 away to Ballymena.
Bowled 25 overseas into a force 8 gale and was run out without facing a ball!
I suppose I realised it could only get better!!
Plan for 2016. Back to back promotions for Cooke Collegians.
P.S. I must be the oldest player to win the first team player of the year award!
Cricket like it no I love it!!!!!!
I hope everyone likes our pictorial tribute on the Home Page to North-West and NCU umpires past and present, some great characters never to be forgotten. Over the winter we will do some more pictorial tributes and if you have any at your club send them in and we'll do a club tribute.
Also, we are going to have a pre-Christmas photo competition so watch this space.
Neale, you have 19 items on your list, that I would call fantastic achievements for NCU and CI.
What about teaching accessible cricket for the disabled kids and adults, or those with learning difficulties?
How does NCU propose to promote this area of the game? Is it only the Taverners cc that even considers this area of cricket participation? Call me or come to a pint and bite meeting and we'll explain our plans for accessible cricket.
Just sitting here in my balzer and tie, sipping my gin and tonic wondering how to spend all the money I get through cricket and the NCU; and thinking of ways to crush the idealism of the young.
Vital that we remain in the 1950s and don't try and move forward and innovate. We must never:-
1. Review and amend the league structures;
2. Allow for greater movement between leagues;
3. Provide greater freedom of length of games;
4. Introduce new competitions;
5. Provide a greater variety of starting times;
6. Alter youth cricket to provide more competitive opportnuites between teams of similar ability;
7. Introduce and encourage girls and women's cricket;
8. Vastly increase the coaching and opportunities for kids;
9. Institute overseas development tours for youth cricket;
10. Create and find funding fo a Cricket Academy;
12. Introduce roadshows and increased communictaion with the clubs;
13. Have the Knights and Junior knights;
14. Consider social media and website developments;
15. Introduce policies on betting; social media; child protection etc;
16. Have our own CDO;
17. Alter disciplinary proceedures to bring into line with CI and good practice as advised by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
18. Keep under review the rules and bye-laws and consider options such as regionalisation of the most junior cricket;
19 Encourage increased participation.
etc etc etc.
All of the above nonsense would just mean hours and hours of meetings and work by unpaid and often annonymous volunteers.
Chin chin - another Gordon's anyone? (Other brands of gin are available)
Ozzie if you can show us the calculation that adding another team = more money then I'm sure every cricket club treasurer in the country would be after your formula.
Developing cricketers and adding teams costs money . Coaching , equipment , hiring indoor nets , paying groundsmen to make pitches or paying council rental charges. Junior memberships don't get close to covering these costs .
The club's struggling to field a second or third team just need to get into local schools , get out looking for sponsors and advertise their club nights etc.
It's obvious there are people out there keen to play cricket - go find them.
"Ozzie" you are on the drink all right. Plenty of personal agenda in that rant mostly without any solid argument or substance. Idealistic? Try realistic and work from there. As for NCU dinosaurs that's about as cheap as not buying your round. What makes you think the 'young' (whatever that means) are the idealists in NCU cricket? Far from it it you really knew more about the topics you are ranting about.
