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We don't talk a lot about North-West cricket on the UC website, but it is very pleasing to see cricket people recognized anywhere. Lexie Miller has been a stalwart of North-West cricket for over 50 and has just received the MBE in recognition of his contribution to cricket and especially for his charity work. The award is richly deserved and a fitting tribute to a lovely man.

Clarence - whilst we are on memories I had a smile when reading Charles Sale Sports Agenda in today's Daily Mail when he referred to Jim Boyce as a "pillar of integrity" in the recent FIFA rumblings. But, and I quote, "that does not mean that Jim's life in sport is not without controversy. It is part of Irish club cricket folklore that when he was captain and wicketkeeper of Ballymena that when thay had Kiran More - who kept wicket for the Indian Test team for 9 years - as overseas player for a season it was Jim who kept hold of the gloves"! I would contend that those really were the golden years of NCU cricket. Re Tommy Harper - I remenber playing against him in a friendly in Kesh many years ago - a long day & aN even longer post-match evening! But then again every club had at least 2 or 3 characters in those days - or have I got the rose-tinted spectacles on?

Good memories Eddie and also great to hear from you. I'm sure there are hundreds of Tommy stories around the country and on his travels I'm equally sure he'll enjoy going down memory lane with perhaps a bit of spice added. Some character.
Same for Harry Cook-still playing!

Taverners cc Portdown V Waringstown Ladies
Friday 12th June 6:30pm.
Chambers Park Portadown

The collection/donation this year is to help buy a table top cricket set for he youth reach club at goal line youth centre.
The Taverners V the ladies is the highlight of the social cricket season and is always a great match. The annual series stands at 2 each with one tied game. The match begins at 6:30pm everyone is welcome.
The bar and the fantastic restaurant 'Scrumee' will be open.
https://twitter.com/tavernerscc

Clarence am afraid my memory is beginning to go. Ivan Anderson reminded me it was not Bertie McGill bowling to Tommy Harpur but that other great squash player and opening bowler the legendary Harry Cooke!

Hi everyone,

Myself & Andrew Cowden are organising a cricket tour out to Barbados over Easter next year with the Ulster Grasshoppers (2016).

We've already had strong interest from potential tourists, so I thought I'd post a message here to see if there are any others keen.

We've always taken away cricketers of all abilities with us, both young & experienced, and also local umpires wish to tour and stand in the sun as opposed to the freezing cold here in NI!! Alakadoos welcome also.

My email is neilrussell_2000@yahoo.com, feel free to drop me a message if interested.

KR,

Russeller

Whilst "out & about" over the weekend a wee bird(sic) told me of an NCU batsman playing in one of the all-Ireland competitions being warned by "southern" umpires for encroaching on the "protected area". Fair enough until it transpired that it was a "plastic" all-weather pitch.

Clarence really enjoyed your piece on Tommy Harpur. Tommy and I became firm friends when we played together for a short time on the Irish side. There was never a dull moment when Thomas was on the cricket field. Two incidents among many stand out. It was a Guiness Cup game at Comber between Ulster Country and North West. Bertie McGill foolishly muttered a few words when he beat Tommy outside the off stump. Tommy despatched the next ball over the fence and into the terraced houses for 6 and followed this up with a verbal attack on Bertie that had M.Reith and myself in stitches behind the stumps.the other that stands out was when Tommy was brought back into the Irish side to play Scotland at Rathmines. Ireland lost a wicket in the over before tea and Tommy had to go in and face 4 balls. A difficult situation. Skipper Monteith gave the strict order to play out the over however it fell on deaf ears as Tommy hit the first ball out of the ground for 6. Now managing Tommy's fiery character was quite a challenge! No more so than when I took him and Ivan Anderson to Hampden Park to enjoy their first taste of Scottish football between two famous clubs. Tommy certainly got caught up in the atmosphere and I was grateful to have Ivan on hand to prevent Tommy from invading the pitch! Yes a wonderful character and I can truthfully say they don't make them like that anymore.

Any clubs interested in playing an U12 girls game?? Please contact us on the following laurelvalecc@hotmail.co.uk @LaurelvaleCC wes on 07801781811 or Colin 07798920629

dear john from Craigavon at least I am not hiding behind my computer screen it was an umpiring decision from 2 seasons ago im sorry I didn't have the benefit of drs and endless instant replays your team got the benefit of the doubt and if the decision was so wrong why wasn't it changed on the day and it was a run out and I was standing at square leg on any given Saturday how many lbw decisions are given in the junior leagues not many I can assure you if you want to call me a cheat I can assure you I wont lose sleep over it but at least give your surname

There's a good article in today's Belfast Telegraoh by Isn Callendar in an interview with the Holywood 3rds skipper about why he was forced to withdraw his team from the League. The sad thing was it was because of the lack of adults not young players that forced his hand. The reprecussiins for a club is that those half a dozen kids now not getting a game move to another club or are lost to the game all together and that's not healthy.
What we did at Muckamore was simple " we ran a campaign called ANYONE FOR CRICKET in the local press and we unearthed half a dozen guys who wanted a game and hadn't played for over 30 years . One guy was at school with myself and hadn't played since leaving school another went to school with Andy Clement and hadn't played since. Guys quit as teenagers because of work , other sports they then have families etc but maybe in their forties they have some free time and want to get involved in a team sport / club environment . I believe there are people like this in every town in Ireland. Go looking for them. Cricket down the leagues can be fun, it's only 25 of 30 overs. Our articles made it clear it wasn't about ability . The half a dozen guys we unearthed have all improved a lot in the past 12 months and have contributed off the field as well. Sometimes we need to think outside the box to make things happen. If we can find these guys in Antrim then they are all over the place. It's because of this very open and inviting stance to anyone wanting to play a bit of cricket that we now have five Saturday teams ( all five out last Saturday with half a dozen others not available ) and three Midweek teams. Get writing, get posters up in the local chippy.

What bad weather we are having, seems to have impacted on my old club at Holywood. I see the 3rd team that won promotion after promotion has been withdrawn after only 3 games and the 2nd team couldn't get a team out at the weekend. The 1sts seem to be doing well in a poor league. Sad to see clubs struggling. Guess that's the way now....

Is this the same terry mccloskey who cheated so badly when umpiring that his captain had to ring up the opposition and concede the match? Is that what you call doing your bit for the game?

lets see its not raining for a change the sun is out great day for cricket hold on we might get beat today i dont think i will bother better to default pride comes before a fall and believe me its toppling this year what a let down not just for the club involved but for the competition t20 and the eleven players on the opposing team who wanted to play why enter in the first place well im not scared of losing only of not trying my best and i will play today come rain hail or shine win or lose i will have done my bit for the game as a whole

Played a game today and was disgusted with the home teams blatant and downright cheating home umpires not knowing rules and when asked about why not out could not even give a proper answer now i know why people will not play on a sat now if teams are that desperate to win by cheating there is no place in cricket for them all teams in ncu should provide at least one umpire or they get no umpires on a sat or sun it was a shocking disgrace today