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The Northern Knights are going to have some team this yr with all the Nor-westers entering the Ncu. Any truth in the rumours that R.west,z.rushe and N.russell are being tapped up by the juggernaut??

For the benefit of the "Belmont" poster - the accepted spelling is "alickadoo" and is a term used in rugby. It is credited to the late Ernie Crawford who used it to describe an individual of limited ability who never achieved anything on the playing field but has managed to cajole their way into positions of authority in a club. This would be back in the day when CIYMS was a senior rugby club and was known affectionately by other sides as Come In Yer Ma's Shouting. Indeed, a former CI player who achieved the top rank in the RUC/PSNI would still refer to this. As Belmont "Alackadoo"(sic) has decided to hide behind a nom-de-plume I can only assume that he falls into this category. My point has been made on many occasions and has not only been directed at one club - see my postings about lack of facilities at other Premier grounds. I am only reflecting the views expressed by many others around the NCU circuit. As I always have maintained, my "views" are my personal opinions and I speak only for Andy Kennedy. And as anyone with a basic knowledge of NCU knows, there is no such entity as a "senior" umpire - we are all equal. As for my knowledge of the LBW Law, well I'm sure there are many throughout the game would say that this lack applies to every Law! But then again, I only took up umpiring when a serious eye defect meant that I could see properly to play the game!

Re Neil

I got a bit of a rebuke from Clarence for my posting on young players a few weeks ago and must apologise to CIYMS for forgetting about Ben Smith opening the bowling last season but could you just confirm to me where Ben will fit into a bowling line up of Jones, Dunn, Thompson, Britton, Van der Dussen and the 2nd overseas player whose transfer has surprisingly not hit the airwaves yet. That makes him 7th bowler behind 6 paid players so I imagine will not turn the arm over very often and in reality will not play much.
Can you also let me know where Jack Beattie and Aaron Johnston will bat amongst Doc, van der Dussen, Jones, Matchett, Clarke, Thompson, Britton, 2nd overseas player, Dunn and any others that they might sign between now and April. I’m guessing pretty low down if at all.
I notice that the young man you mention who played away to Ballymena is not in the SA touring squad at u15 or u17 and in fact the several that you mention going on the tour is actually 3.
Nice job trying to convince yourself that CIYMS has a youth policy. The rest of us aren’t buying it.

RE: Andy Kennedy

Clearly you cant read but how about when you go to Specsavers over the winter and learn the LBW rule then CI will get new sight screens for you.

Absolutely ludicrous that a senior umpire from NIACUS can come on a public forum and openly criticise one club

Re: David McCormick

I am guessing you missed Jack Beattie and Ben Smith breaking into the first XI at the end of the season and Aaron Johnston coming back into the team after exams and holidays. Four CI kids including Matchy who have come through the youth policy in the last few years and should be regular features going forward, this from a club that had no youth policy 10 years ago.

As well as that, David Robinson played for the firsts away at Ballymena and at 15 has the talent to make it as well. You also might have noticed several of our kids are off to South Africa in development squads next year.

People can knock CI regarding the payment of players where we are hardly alone but if you are taking a dig at the youth policy, you might want to do a bit more research.

The point made in the last para. of David McCormick's posting has been well-known throughout NCU cricket for the past 3 or 4 years. More carpet-baggers brought in means fewer opportunities for other players. See my earlier posting about Ah You & Diack and my many, many postings over years on this subject. Look to Limavady in the NW and see what happens when the money runs out. Sky Sports running a programme on "Gretna - the club that vanished" - lesson there for somebody! Maybe we will see proper sightscreens at Belmont in 2015!! And then again.......!

Clarence – interesting opinions.

Like most sane people outside CI see spending money on players like this as a strange policy.

What is omitted however in my opinion is that CI are a very professionally run organization. What I mean by that is if you go there during the day you will see a full time paid employee to oversee the hockey pitches, or tennis courts or badminton or rugby or cricket etc full time bar staff etc. The new CI with its modern building and from what I hear finance directed to facilities must be commended. (jealous) It is a huge difference to what the facilities were only a few years ago.
However the soul appears lost and what was before a club with character is now a multi sports institution or facility. (maybe similar to other Institutions that are attempting to keep pace - and in time will also become clubs with no soul!).
Whilst they continue to run the facility professionally the prospect of ‘running out of money’ is remote and their future is insured!
Even if the qualification area was restricted to NCU areas then we would see all the best players being targeted. There appears no end to their ambition. An unfulfilled ambition I still find myself scratching my head at.

The danger to like minded ambitious clubs must be dangerous.

Hi Clarence.

Some very good points you make re CI and their recruitment policy.
All this outlay to win the league title and £500 !!!
It would be great if the other premier league teams got together and agreed to play their 2nd or 3rd eleven against CI and let them achieve their goal
!!!!!! their trophy and their £500
The other 7 teams could then enjoy a competitive league between themselves.

Question for CI : What and where is your infamous youth policy? and where will it go in 2015??

From what I see, John Matchett is the youth policy, (at the minute) with other very talented cricketers languishing in the 2nds & 3rds. I have a message for these young and very talented cricketers, 'wake up and smell the coffee' you will NEVER get a chance at Belmont.

Just look at the 2014 season, when they lost one of their 'pro's' midway through the season and were out of contention for the title, did they give one of their young players a chance, NOPE they employed Jeremy Bray to play some meaningless league games towards the end of the season.

As you rightly say they can spend their money however they wish, but don't be telling us all how you are giving youth a chance !!

I was speaking to a CI member about this recently, and his words to me were:
'We are not a club, the 1st eleven are a club on their own, the rest of us don't really matter !! says it all really.

Sad to hear about Billy McCart ...I remember him taking 10 for 14 against Carrick one season(Ray Bennett "spoilt" his figures by hitting a six )A great character!

Just back from Dublin & still trying to get Flossie settled after the last 20 minutes against Australia. Had a deep & meaningful late eveing discussion in McDaid's about "imports" in Irish rugby. Apparently Rodney Ah You is one of the Carnalbana Ah Yous and wee Mrs. Diack used to run a wee shop at our corner! Is there any lesson here for Cricket Ireland vis-a-vis the cost of "contracted" players and their committment to the National side?

RIP Billy McCart a cricket legend from Millpark my condolences to his family circle

35 year old player/ coach, qualified Level 3 coach available to become part of your club's coaching staff.

Quite right Robin. Carrick had a great season and congratulations all round. We should also congratulate Simon Johnston, Mark Hawthorne and James McCollum on their awards and the North-West awardees Lawrence Moore and the ageless Decker Curry.
Great to see quality, loyalty, and success being recognized at the highest level across various sectors.

Many deserved congratulations to Simon Johnston on his Coach Of The Year Award, tho last time I checked Simon is very much a product & very proud to be from that part of County Armagh just at the top of the Shankill Road called Woodvale.

Both Simon and James are of course products of local cricket in general and I apologise as my comments have clearly offended some people. My apologies also to my colleagues at Waringstown Cricket Club for speaking out of turn.