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A very endearing article on the NIACUS site by Alex Adams, 'Why I do this'

Takes me back to the only time I was ever 'involved' in an NCU cup-final, 3yrs ago in a Quoile cup hosted by Derriaghy where Waringstown ran out winners against a plucky Instonians side.

Yes, I had a vested interest in the match (my son was in the Waringstown team) but overall it was a superbly organised event. The Queensway ground and facilities where immaculate and given the game was played during a weekday evening, the ground was packed with eager supporters from both sides and quite a few neutrals out to enjoy an entertaining cup final.

And what's more, adding kudos to my participation in the game, after near 20 yrs of trying and failing, I was the proud recipient of my very own personal NCU cup winners gold medallion, presented to me by none other than legendary Irish cricket international Andrew White.

For doing the scorebook !

CHELTENHAM TIPS IN RACE CARD ORDER

105 DRUMLEE SUNSET REV4CAST MR MIGAGI

135 GARDE LE VICTOIRE

220 MY MOLE

240 WAXIES DARGLE EW THINK OLOFI CRACKING EW VALUE OF FEATHER WEIGHT

315 BROD NA HEIRAAN GREAT EW BET (GOOD 4TH WINDSOR PARK @LEOP )TOM BELLAMY HAS CHOSEN IT OVER MY DANGER SHARDAPOUR

350 VIVE LE ROI EWAY SAVER THE UNIT

GOOD LUCK PUNTERS

OZZIE nap won kayf blanco 4/1. i got 9/1 and 7/2 on copper kay also had sausilito sunrise 12/1 and rons dream 14/1 .ps if daniel mcconkey keeps following me he might signing micheal vaughan for CIYMS.dont like knocking jockeys but mark walsh never should lost on free expression.

ozzie that ballyalton wasnt off yesterday decent horse dont forget SHANTOU VILLAGE could be superstar

kayf blanco eway nay 315 wetherby
kings palace ew 225 chelt
copper kay 405 chelt
free expression 1pm punch (rathpatrick danger same owner )

boondooma danger 225 chelt

sad day for world my prayers go out to all the innocent families in france

Jeff - that was to be my next post.
14 team league for the Premier League.
That is what is needed to re-energise club cricket.
Always love to visit Dundrum and I look forward to seeing old friends.

Bumperdale - no longer a voice in the wilderness!

Jeff , any more tips?

Good Nap...unlucky with the rest.

Yankee or lucky15 at cheltenham

knock house 4pm nap
dollar and a dream 325
ballyalton 140
any currency 250

good luck if having a go

Bumper .lets hope to see me and you opening the bowling next year in the meadow = golden oldie shoot out ? This is something that i think might work premier 14 teams section one 14, play each tean only once free up lot double headers relegation every two years if the so called junior teams want go up and meet all ground criteria to give every team time to adjust ..Premier and Ballymena.Lurgan.Woodvale. Downpatrick.Muckamore and Bangor ive no doubt it would create few one sided games but it would stop poaching and the need to PAY LOCAL players it would and think it would benefit everyone .And its time that everyone stop bitching and get on with promoting there own club as lots good things that every club can do to get juniors and seniors playing .Dundrum are going into 10 primary schools and Shimna Integrated College and running kwik cricket comp in next few weeks and plan take u-17 on tour for third year in a row (not bad for junior club). The 14 team sections would give more chance make the T20 Cups be played with proper finals day with barbeque and music family sunday days ...ps NCU can only go were clubs want them too lets keep good debates on here

Of course we need a Premier League to cater for the best local and professional cricketers.

However the NCU and ICU are up in arms about restrictive practices with regard to the World Cup but fail to acknowledge their own restrictive practice of having a Premier League of only 8 clubs.

In my last post I outlined the negatives associated with this 8 club league and extolled the virtues of expanding to a larger league.

Let's be consistent!!!

I just received this text from Norman Shannon. I think it is vitally important that we use this Forum to SHOUT about this stuff. The traditional media do a great job on the reporting of games and about the signing of professionals etc but there is so much more going on in cricket behind the scenes. Cricket is alive and thriving in both NCU and NWCU .

Hi Ivan good to see you putting out good news cricket stories!! We at Instonians had a Halloween cricket camp for a week ! We also have started a Ladies Team. They have had 5 training sessions at RBAI each Monday Nite from 7.30 . All welcome. We have 12 women training. The course lasts 10 weeks and we hope we will have a ladies team in the NCU Division 1 next year!! Keep up the good work. Norman Shannon.

I have watched this debate on the Premier League, overseas players etc with interest over the past few days. It strikes me that the differing opinions of both Neil and Ivan are reflective of the overall split of opinions of cricket enthusiasts in Ireland.
I think we would all like to see local cricket being played competitively and at the highest standard possible, but we all have differing views on how we achieve this. Do we bring in as many overseas professionals as teams can 'currently' afford, paid local players, focus on youth, a mixture of all, an amateur league?

It all reminds me of a comment I heard when rugby union was in the process of changing its status from amateur to professional. All the talk was of how much money each club would have to spend, who was going to earn how much and which players were going to be poached. One commentator wrote that being professional wasn't just about being paid. It was about attitude, behaviour, focus on training, being the best you could be etc.

I am not saying we don't have these traits as these have undoubtedly improved in recent years. However in my opinion if there was more focus on this side of professionalism, rather than the increasing focus on money, then maybe we would have more of these 'good news' stories.

You don't necessarily need to spend lots of money on players to be more professional.

Here's more good cricket news ( except for those that think it's dead). Go to Facebook and "like" Enniskillen Cricket Club. You will see that the local coaches are in schools and a 6 a side event is planned for 24th November in Lisnaskea.
Rather than just go on and on I am going to make it a habit of posting links to every good news story I see about cricket in Ireland on this Forum And remember this iniative in Fermanagh and that by Donacloney are taking part in the winter.
I'm fed up reading about Kempy but I never get fed up reading stories like these.

Just found a link to this on Twitter. Maybe those that think cricket in the NCU is dead should take a leaf out of Donacloney's book. Let's get more of these positive stories on the Ulster Cricketer forum.

Donacloney Cricket Club

Over the next four weeks until Saturday 5th December, we will be running youth coaching, weather permitting, on Saturday afternoons.
A session for P6 and P7 students will be from 12 noon until 1.30.
1st - 4th Years will be from 1.30-3.00.
Places will be limited for both and on a first come basis.
We would also ask that if any parents would be interested in helping out with the coaching of the young people now or in the summer, we would be hopeful of running a Welcome to Cricket introductory coaching course in the new year if there was sufficient interest.
Any further queries please comment below or email kyle@donaghcloneycc.co.uk

Neil - my last word on this unless you want to continue it over a pint in the Adair Arms.

Surely we have the league structure you want.

Those that have - Premier League
Those that haven't - Section One and below.

Anyone that wants to play with the best move to a Premier League club and those at PL clubs who feel they aren't getting what they want from the game move to a Section One or below club.

Simple really. Allow clubs spend their money as they feel is right for them and give players an option to find a level they enjoy playing at.

Ps . Text me if you want to discuss this over a pint.

Lads
My last word on this.

Ricky... I am a pessimist.
I am worried that what happened to club rugby in this country could happen to club cricket here.
I know at my own club bog standard 2ndXV players were getting paid £120 for sitting on the bench and not getting on during AIL games in the 1990s. Simply scandalous and our club is still feeling the fall-out of that.
Club rugby was set back 20/25 years and is only now beginning to show the shoots of recovery.
Cricket, in my eyes, is heading the same way - and to what end.
When the money runs out, what happens?
I would like a league structure in place that those who have and those who don't do not have to face each other.

Ricky... as for "not someone looking to further themselves by playing against the best".... I am a 47-year-old has-been who's career is just about finished.
But I had the pleasure of playing against the best players this island produced both for Ballymena and Ulster Country when overseas professionals were as rare as a warm, sunny Saturdays at Eaton Park.
And it was great and would love it all to return to that some day. Here's hoping!

On a brighter note... anyone know if any of the cup draws for next summer are due to be made before Christmas?