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Despite Stephen's assertion that he feels that he "finally" felt moved to reply I'm not totally convinced that this is his first posting. The difference is that I have never hidden behind a nom-de-plume so while he knows who I am, he has me at an advantage in that I don't know who he is and I respect his wish for anonymity. As he rightly says, I have been critical of many aspects of the state of cricket. Some time ago I was involved in the NCU Divisional Committee for a few years. There were many stalwart guys involved at that time - Bob Law, Jimmy Boyce, Jim Barry, Jim McMorran and many more earned the respect of all who knew them. I had the opportunity to voice opinions that were strongly held but these views were not always shared by everyone but that's what democracy is all about. So one could say I've had my day but I can assure anyone who knows me that there is no bitterness in anything that I write. I do have a deep love for our game and I try in my postings focus minds on the declining standards in playing numbers, facilities and playing standards in NCU cricket. If some guys can't take this on the chin well maybe they need to look to themselves. I started playing cricket over 7 decades ago and I suppose certain health issues over the past 4 years have made me either more grumpier (Mr. Angry would say that I always was grumpy!) or more aware of how things have declined. The fact that my postings usually evoke a reaction indicates to me that others may possibly agree with me others may feel otherwise. I can make no comments about how others express themselves. I would set Stephen's mind at rest that there was no "tongue in cheek" - I was pleased to see the new screens and scoreboard in operation at Belmont with lots of spectators enjoying a pint on a pleasant day - my Dublin colleagues were really impressed - a good advert for the local game. Agh well, maybe its time for me to forget about the computer and spend more time listening to the wireless with Flossie!!

Dundrum cricket club summer draw is not only to help run tours to Ayr and Dublin but to help run the club as it takes over 5000£ just keep going yearly so can all parents juniors and members try sell tickets as its your club and your children we are trying to benefit .
. If anyone would like buy raffle ticket in aid of the club and u-11/13 Dublin /17 Ayr tours be much appreciated .2£ ticket
prizes
1st Slieve donard stay for two
2nd Bucks Head voucher
3rd Mourne Seafood voucher
4th Dundrum Inn voucher.
if anyone would like to support this cheqs made payable to dundrum cc 8 church avenue bt330nb , many thanks

Andy, of course I will be defensive about my club, however, as it is you, and you have continually been negative about many clubs, including CI, for numerous years publicly on this channel, I feel I have to finally say something!!

Even your so called compliments come across very much tongue in cheek...

My major issue is that you are a NIACUS umpire, and you have your official channels to make your negative points about clubs facilities through, yet you feel that you have to make your feelings known on a public forum!

I don't see the likes of Alan Neill, Jareth McCready et al on a public forum slagging off clubs!!

Not slagging off - paying a compliment about the sightscreens Stephen. Perhaps you're being a wee bit defensive!!

Re Steven - just my opinion in a few words (didn't fancy an extrapolated pro's and cons - excuse the pun!).

Each to their own.

Andy Kennedy...I am sure you will slag something else off at Belmont given time...

to paraphrase a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tommy Patton, in relation to gondolas in Victoria Park, I was delighted to see the successful breeding programme of sightscreens at Belmont over the close season!!

You have my apologies. There is of course nothing wrong with Taverners cricket and it is great to see more cricket being played and enjoyed.
It was a bad turn of phrase from me.

Bruce:
What's wrong with Taverners cricket?
When the Portadown club quit in 2013 the Taverners side was left with an all weather pitch that needs replaced, no players, no mowers a neglected cricket square and a roller that wouldn't run. While we played our beer and charity games we quietly set about repairing the square,building mowers from spare parts and fixing the roller. Our cobbled together machines have even been used by another senior club when their machines Were being repaired. This season the Taverners entered a league with Dungannon, Clogher and Monaghan. A league which turned out to be a lot more competitive and played at a much higher standard than we expected. Our players are mostly former Portadown players and although some play various levels of Saturday cricket for other clubs they are lining up to play for the Taverners. Our first social match was V Dundalk and we had 9 players which included a few over 50s. Now we have beaten Dungannon, and Clogher. We Play Monaghan this week and there are 17 players chasing 11 places for that match.
So here we are a social Taverners cricket team that would now in all likelihood beat any section 3 team. Every club should have a Taverners team, even if like us it's only to pick up the pieces of broken cricket club and build them up again.

Re Ryan Haire

Sorry Ryan - should we bow to that almighty comment from you ?

Hardly surprising considering the Club ethos that you were brought up in lol

Great for the big boys Pro's alright - keep us little uns below stairs.

Inspiration wears a bit thin when your attack is continually beaten around the park by the opposition pro with regular personal scores in excess of 150. lol.

I know, I know - we are simply not good enough and need to work harder.

It is good fun watching when your own pro does it to the opposition though!

I do take your point however that some overseas players are inspirational coaches. Then again so are some local coaches.

Well, it is almost the weekend...

A Gentleman of Wealth

A gentleman of wealth, enquiring after my health
asked me to his plush abode,
thinking I'd been blessed, I agreed to his request
so together in his sports car, off we rode

His house was mighty fine, likewise, the vintage wine
sipped from crystal glass,
vast rooms full of art deco, contrasted to the echo
of servants polishing up brass

Then as was my fate, he took around his estate
over land where they hunt the fox,
as I listened to the sounds, of bugle and baying hounds
he turned and promptly said, ' aren't I the dog's bollocks ? '

So with a look of disdain, I answered simple and plain
''I'm afraid, I disagree,
your car may look nifty, do one hundred and fifty
but it only has two seats, no good to me

Your home may be grand, but I find it rather bland
bereft of frivolity and atmosphere,
I prefer my humble house, no servants but a loving spouse
and kids who fill each room with cheer

Though my garden's small, it's big enough to play ball
where we all take turns to bat and bowl,
so now take me home, I no longer care to roam
with a man who has neither heart nor soul !

Agree 100% Ryan.

Two items :
Pro debate - change the record (they inspire and develop local cricket - simple)
Knights - good to see the Knights 21s in action at Belmont today - all involved should be commended for their vision of developing what is a critical yet often disregarded age group locally in cricket development 19-25.

Have to agree with Jeff Maguires comments about too much Sunday cricket as I feel that it is unrealistic to expect amature cricketers to leave the house at 9am nearly every Saturday and Sunday in July and August having already spent most weekends in May and June playing cricket and I feel that this is more likely to lead to players quitting than getting home at 9pm.
(Though maybe this is because it takes me to Wednesday to recover from a game on Saturday)
With regards to banning "overseas" players, were would we draw the line? What about people that have jobs here that migrated to find work, or married a local lass and settled here? Or young people whose parents move here?
The idea that a club should have to play a set number of players that came through their youth set up is also beset with problems, i played youth cricket with Waringstown many years ago but have been with Victoria for 20+ years now, should I be denied a place because I wasn't "home schooled"?