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Very sad to hear that Peter Russell passed away today following what appears to have been a heart attack.

Peter was a key person in CSN, involved in many aspects of the Club and to say that he will be greatly missed is a massive understatement.

Our sincere thoughts go out to Peter's sister, brother as well as his wider family.

All at CSN

Agh Billy son - cheer up!. Ireland doing well, the new season is only 10 weeks away and a Lisburn player featuring in a great catch for Zimbabwe!! Now give a big smile - there - doesn't that feel better already!!

Sorry to hear about Peter White. Nice man and a very good umpire, at least when I was playing! One of those guys who, when you arrived and asked who the umpires were and you heard his name, you thought great, no problems there then. Condolences to kith and kin. I hope to do the umpires course next week and, if Nothing falls on me, do the odd match this summer. The £250 match fee was the clincher. Or did I get that wrong? Anyway, no promises, but I hope to give it a go if I can and at least help in some small way (and I'm not referring to my height!).

Templepatrick Cricket Club intends to host a reunion lunch, possibly during August 2015, for former Belfast Cricket League cricketers, provided that there is sufficient interest for such an event. We have obtained a large collection of newspaper articles, some photographs, fixture books,. and other memorabilia, and would hope to locate and borrow at least some of the BCL trophies for this event, although to date the trophies are proving to be elusive. Nevertheless,a further posting about them will follow shortly.

We are also considering four short presentations (each of about 10 to 15 minutes duration) concerning various aspects of the history of the League as well as a question and answer session, plenty of time for browsing, informal discussion and reminiscing. Some more details about the presentations will follow at a later date.

Templepatrick Cricket Club will provide the lunch, however those attending would have the opportunity, should they wish to do so, to make a donation to the McMillan Cancer Relief, and the Donkey Sanctuary Templepatrick, the two charities which are supported by Templepatrick Cricket Club.

Mr Clarence Hiles, in his wonderful book, "History of Senior Cricket in Ulster" did mention the BCL a few times in passing and observed that it "holds a unique place in the history of Belfast cricket." It also interconnected, not inconsiderably it may be said, with the NCU, but this is something that has never been documented. We would therefore hope to be able to accommodate anyone with an interest in the history of local cricket that might like to come along, have some lunch with us, and hear a little about the BCL. NCU/Cricket Ireland Officials and umpires would course be especially welcome.

Finally, Mr John Major, the former Prime Minister, has observed that in the world of sport the story of cricket is the greatest story ever told. Could it be that in the world of cricket, the story of the Belfast Cricket League is the greatest story that has never been told? We can never know such things, but it just might be. Certainly, in our opinion anyway, it is a good story that up to now has never been told.

Hopefully there are many former BCL cricketers who read this forum. Should anyone have any photographs or other memorabilia, please let us know.

Please contact, Arthur Bowron, 028 90842070: arthur.bowron@yahoo.co.uk, to register an interest and for further details if you might like to attend.

Yours most sincerely

Arthur Bowron
TCC

Billy Dobbin its your choice to be sad (or happy) but please don't be sad for Muckamore. We are happy to have Jay and Ryan at Moylena and if the hard work those two are putting in alongside our very youthful 1sts squad (I think Ryan could be our oldest player) then they certainly aren't sad. We aren't sad that young Jason VdeMerwe decided to play at CSNI.That doesn't mean we were happy to lose him and we would be happier if he was out batting alongside his mates Craig Drummond, Sunny Stephenson and Gary Nicholl, but that's life. I can't imagine North Down want you to be sad for them just as they wouldn't have been sad for other clubs who over the years lost players to The Green and in years to come I can see players being attracted to Templepatrick so lets not be sad. Irish cricket is on the up again. People are talking to me about cricket this week who never mentioned it to me before. We are getting comments from people in Antrim that they can't wait to see Ryan play so it's only you that is sad.
Let's keep sadness in perspective. Sadness is losing a great cricket personaility, a husband and a father like Peter White.

I find it sad for very differing reasons to read that Hunter and Haire have opted to join Muckamore for 2015.

The contstant drip of propaganda on here will point towards all the appropriate buzz words and tired cliches but in my opinion its sad for North Down, sad for Templepatrick and most of all sad for Muckamore.

I was so saddened to hear about the death of Peter White. Peter was as true gentleman and excellent umpire who deserved praise for his abilities from near and far. His ability to make players feel at ease and promote the game was so evident and of course there was the social side which I enjoyed during a three day fixture against MCC in the North West many years ago and of course the many times at dinners and meetings. I know that I will miss a man who was filled with a great desire to enjoy life and to make cricket a fun game to be part of.

re. William Burns,
In that jnr league CSNI had a girl playing, and Bangor too if I remember rightly, maybe even Downpatrick as well.
I played for Colin a couple of times 2013, you might remember the wee lassie and her Father slapping my bowling around Tannaghmore gdns for fun. I guess that's why I'm making the tea these days.

Andy,
Sorry to hear the news about Peter. Great character and lovely person. Sad day for local cricket.
Rest in Peace Peter.

Really saddened by the news of Peter White's passing. A larger than life character who was always great company both on and off the field. He always was "affronted" when I would repeat the story about Michael Kasprovitch and him at Eglinton!!

Re; Alan Chambers comments.
I'm sure Colin Stewart of Laurelvale would confirm that in some games last season he thought he had a few "girlies" playing on his own side.

Now i know your joking william id a great game lol i know your face but am not sure if it was banbridge rangers or annagh you were following but at the minute im down to referee one of the them again this week ill not say which at the moment haha

Kyle.
Some of the teams in the lower jnr leagues quite often have girls on their teams. Ask Colin Stewart from Laurelvale III, I'm sure he was out to girlies bowling a couple of times in 2014.
There is a girl who plays for your club, I think her name is Sarah maybe spelled differently, Surah? She could easily play in any section 2 senior team.

You'd be perfectly entitled to ask yourself what has a poem concerning six chickens got to do with cricket?

Well, before turning over the page have a think about this!

You wouldn't put second rate fuel into your BMW or Merc before setting off to a cricket match and you definitely would be expecting a top quality tea during the interval!

So always insist on free-range eggs, better for your health, better for your game & as you'll see, much better for the chickens too...

Six Leghorns Hens

That summer's day had been bright and pleasantly clement
so deciding to reclaim a small plot of overgrown land,
adjoining an old wooden shed where none did frequent
I rolled up my sleeves, then took sickle and spade in hand

Like an ox pullinga plough, I toiled all through the day
uprooting dense thicket, shifting boulders and rocks,
cleared up the loose debris and without further delay
erected a sturdy stockade, to ward off any curious fox

Finally on completion, a sanctuary fit for habitation
off to a poultry farm to purchase a few laying hens
and on arrival, I was led to a scene of mass retardation,
thousands of hapless hens, enclosed within tiny wire pens

Dumbfounded and dismayed, I could only but wonder
was this the only existence these poor creatures knew?
On noting my demeanour of someone just torn asunder
came a trite remark, " sure it's what they're used too"!

Whilst stood there perplexed, perturbed and mouth agape
six frightened near featherless hens were extracted from a cage,
then placed inside a hessian cloth sack to prevent any escape
so accepting my wares, I paid the proprietor and left in a rage!

On arrival home with my newly acquired additions
gently one at a time, I removed each from the sack
but oblivious of release from servitude's cruel attritions,
six cowering chickens crouched motionless as if under attack!

It took several days of gentle persuasion and loving care
before six traumatised leghorns, realised this was no dream,
for intensive institutionalisation is every chicken's worst nightmare
as slowly but surely they began to roam, scratch, peck and preen

Now we all have a bucket list of things to do before we die
and I too have my ambitions but this I solemnly affirm,
when I'm called home, I'll meet my maker a contented guy
for I'm proud to have given six leghorn hens, the chance to look for a worm!

Other than those clubs already with ladies sides and Saintfield and Donaghcloney, is anyone aware of any other clubs that fielded females in their Saturday adult sides or older youth sides in 2014?