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sorry John I am aware of the cost to run a premier league club. Perhaps then I should say tens of thousands on much of what you have mentioned. I would agree that no section team wants to go up to get hammered most weeks.

Re Derrick

The harsh reality is that most if not all Premier League Clubs need tens of thousands to be able to survive in the Premier League when you take into account pros, fees, and general running costs of the club. Can't see many teams in Section 1 being excited by going up to the Premier League.

Wouldn't it be great to see tens of thousands of pounds still not winning a league! Cricket would be the winner then, although it's not over yet!

On the thoughts off section 1?? I don't watch a lot these days but Derriaghy seem to be doing a great job and from what I remember Lewis was a good player and only getting better from the looks of things and never had a mention to the Knights is there really that's my better in PL. than S1??

congratualtions to the PSNI on reaching the final of the PAA competition and good luck for Grace Road in early September - hard fought win over Durham/Cumbria at a sun-baked Newforge yesterday.

I must commend Edward Liddle's excellent review of the career of recently retired Ireland international Alex Cusack on the Cricket Europe website. Edward is an amazing and very thorough historian who has captured Alex's huge contribution in both spirit and detail. He may have operated behind the limelight of several of his peers, but he was an equal in everything he did with both bat and ball. Above all, he was a modest, quiet and unassuming, something that is rare in top performers these days.
Many thanks Alex for your massive contribution to Irish cricket down the years. "Well played that man."

New Tour Review for The Ulster Grasshoppers South Africa 1981/82 Tour Now live!

Find it in Ulster Grasshoppers>Tours.
Happy Reading!

Congratulations Waringstown on reaching the Irish Senior Cup Final. The Villagers beat Pembroke and will now play Merrion after they defeated Civil Service North in the other semi-final.
The final has been slated for 5 September at the Lawn and all NCU supporters should rally round our remaining representatives and support them in bringing the cup back north.

as a matter of fact section 2 would do, at one of the most picturesque grounds in the country... the meadow @Dundrum

2nds game at Woodvale was over 6 balls after i arrived at the ground today (we won easy) so decided to go to belmont to watch my 1st premier league game of the season, ci v north down. what a waste of time. the only atmosphere was a few half hearted rounds of applause from the north down players/supporters who seemed to out number the home support about 10 to 1. the outfield looked ready for the main sport played at the ground.(rugby) and the surroundings were, , , ,shabby to say the least. if that's premier standard give me section 1 any day

Enjoyed a wonderful evening of cricket at Shaw's Bridge on Friday
.
NCU u11 finals- Derriaghy v. Donacloney and Inst v Templepatrick.
Sunshine, big crowd of parents and supporters and a BBQ featuring ribeye steak!!!!
High quality cricket from talented youngsters.

Excellent organisation from NCU and Instonians CC.
Well done to all involved!

Win, lose or draw after a tough game I like to spend a Saturday evening with a liquid libation accompanied by a legendary tune or two from Marty Robbins...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=999RqGZatPs

"Big Wood"

To a cricket club in Lurgan rode a stranger one fine day
only spoke with the skipper, didn't have too much to say
No one dared to ask his business no one dared to make a quip
For the stranger there among them had a big wood by his hip
Big wood by his hip

It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin' all around
He's an outlaw running loose came the whisper from each lip
And he's here to do business with the big wood by his hip
Big wood by his hip

The opposition had a pacey bowler known as Nasty Ned
Many batsmen had tried to hit him but their stumps got spread
He was fast and he was vicious though a youth of twenty four
And his wickets so far numbered one and ninety more
One and ninety more

Now the stranger started talking made it plain to folks around
Was a former player who wouldn't be too long in town
He came here to put some manners into a bowlers head
Said he'd do it off the first ball, bowled by Nasty Ned
Bowled by Nasty Ned

Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Nasty Ned
But the bowler didn't worry men before had froze like lead
Ninety one had tried to take him ninety one had made a blip
Ninety two would be the stranger with the big wood by his hip
Big wood by his hip

Wickets soon fell quickly but the stranger did not twitch
And by twenty past eleven he walked out on the pitch
Folks were watching from the pavillion, sure he'd get struck
For they knew this handsome stranger was another sitting duck
Another sitting duck

There were 22 yards between them when the umpire called out play
And the timing of the stranger is still talked about today
Nasty Ned barely had cleared leather fore the stranger walked down the strip
Sending the ball far over the boundary with the big wood by his hip
Big wood by his hip

It was over in a flicker and the folks all gasped aloud
As they watched the ball go hurtling, then disappear into a cloud
Nasty Ned was taken off, knowing he'd made a fatal slip
When he tried to bounce the stranger with the big wood by his hip
Big wood by his hip

Big wood Big wood, when he tried to bounce the stranger with the big wood by his hip

i agree with the knights fan when talking about pros. if every team had no pros then you see the real team. i dont think pros should play in the ncu set up. That is a spot gone. when you look at the top 4 teams in the league 1 and the bottom 3 of the PL there is nothing in it only paid players.. and the team who would come out would be Woodvale in my opinion.

Just to re-iterate I said the main difference in standard in the calibre of pro. All 7 PL pros play first class. Then look at muckamore who went down last year, poor pro was the main reason, same I think with carrick this year. (No such thing as a poor pro but poor in comparison to other teams). Think if you had a pro-less game between Lisburn/Ballymena/Carrick/Downpatrick/Muckamore/Derriaghy.... In my personal opinion 1 of the latter 4 would come out on top. Personal opinion though....

Re - Knights Fan

I have watched a fair bit of cricket over the last few years and i hate to say it but there is a huge gulf in standard between PL and section 1 and that includes the bottom of the PL and top of section 1. Promotion and relegation over the last few years highlights my point.

I think in reality, any player wishing to progress to Knights and then ultimately Ireland will need to be associated with a PL club and consistantly perform at the highest level.

This is no different to any other sport and unfortunately with this will see the trend of players moving clubs continue.