Forum

Great to see Carrick recognised as Club of the year...the First XI squad under Ian Parkhill had a fantastic season winning 4 trophies,backed up by league wins for the 2nds,4ths and Under 15s,showing great strength in depth.

Re: Jonathan Lyttle

Since when have Simon Johnston and James McCollum been Waringstown homegrown talent?

One thing I do agree on is the scorers huts do need to improve and get bigger

Jonathan
Would that not be an example of Lurgan's home grown talent and tradition ?

RE Jonathan Lyttle

'Another example of home grown talent and tradition which Waringstown excels in by investing time and support to all'

Since when has James McCollum been homegrown talent? Was he not poached from Lurgan....

You are 100% right Mikey. It was said in the context that other clubs also spend heavily so it is no guarantee. You still have to win on the field and you have to beat teams that also spend.
All the major trophies in the recent era have been won by clubs who invested heavily in players whether openly or covertly so we are in agreement. I don't know where it ends but it is virtually impossible for an amateur club to compete with a semi-professional team and that's the same in all sport.

Just want to pass on my congratulations to Simon Johnston and James McCollum on their awards. True recognition of talent and ability for both. Simon an excellent coach both at club and representative level and James who has great potential for the future both at Waringstown and with Ireland. Another example of home grown talent and tradition which Waringstown excels in by investing time and support to all.

Clarence please stand corrected. Money does buy you success and trophies.
You may not see it every year but over a period of time the wealthier clubs, in all sports, will be most successful. They might not win leagues and cups every year but they will be there and thereabouts. Take ulster rugby and look at big spending ballynahinch, look at city and Chelsea in the premier league, the big spending French rugby clubs, real Madrid in the context of European football. It's all relative at the end of the day and Irish cricket is no different.

Andy,
The basics should be in place as set by the Grounds Committee. Come in Neil and confirm?
My campaign was for for better spectator facilities but more seating has lost its appeal with nobody to sit on the seats. Also, toilets-we are worse than the Irish League and that's a low entry point. The Beatles sang "Money can't be me love" and it can't buy you trophies either.

As a scorer with twenty years experience I wish to register my dismay at some of the scoring facilities in Premier League grounds. The scorebox at Waringstown is an example to all clubs but there are grounds where you are in a garden shed with no windows that can open or if they do open you ar exposed to elements. Some boxes have not been cleaned or spruced up and clubs should address the shortcomings during the winter months. I think of our international ground with a garden shed ready for the skip or another leading club where the scorebox doubles up as a store for equipment. Clearly unacceptable when you take in amount of money being spent on players. NCU should seek to make clubs meet a minimum criteria but based on talking to scorers. Things can be tough enough when scoring on a Saturday but when you think of the comfort at Moylena or the view from the Lawn you feel out of place stuck in a shed directly from B&Q.

as Lee says - investment on the infrastructure of some grounds in the Premier League!! I have always believed that there must be some level of ground criteria for "up the leagues" never mind basic "facilities". I know, I know Mr. Ed. - I won't mention a certain scoreboard or the luxurious changing rooms in South Belfast!! I really can't see the business case for such spending - unless you qualify for Europe!! As I said before, and there have been so many examples over the years, when the cash cow dies we'll see what happens.

So CIYMS have got the cheque book out for what must be one of their better signings of Nigel Jones. At first when I read the News Letter article on the signing I thought to myself here we go again at CI, but surely they should receive some praise for their investment in sight screens, covers and nets?

If only more clubs followed suit and spent more money on facilities instead of on players. Should the NCU not set minimum level of ground equipment and facilities if a club wants to be in the Premier League?

Hi all.
Anyone know when the cup draws will be made for the NCU Senior Cup and Irish Cup?

I heard a nasty rumour yesterday while attending our home game yesterday (Glenavon FC) with many of my Victoria colleagues. I was approached and told there where accusations being made on social media regarding our wee club 'paying' players last season. Personally and after reading a few of the comments on this forum it smells and sounds like a case of sour grapes. We have continuously strived to survive and improve our wee club using extremely limited resources. Do we own our own ground, NO, do we have a nice cosy bar bringing in X amount of £s, NO, do we have have a few 'sugar daddies' drip feeding our bank balance, again NO!!! We have managed year in year out to survive on basically our club sponsor (Maloneys Diner), a Christmas draw and our players dues. We are proud of what we have achieved and are proud of our town and people. Our treasurer has worked tirelessly to keep us afloat against stiff opposition, bigger clubs like Lurgan, Waringstown and Donacloney. It always seems that once we seem to be getting anywhere the snipers take up position! If all these other 'snipers' are at a club who are in a position to pay players, good for them, your prerogative. We are glad to have anyone who is willing to play for Victoria C.C., we are glad to stay afloat, we are glad to just be able to play cricket!! Please show a bit of respect, we have enjoyed our wee bit of recent success, maybe some of you can at least acknowledge our hard work and commitment to Victoria C.C. and not constantly taking cheap shots because your own season didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. We may not be the 'trendiest' club in the land but maybe one of the hardest working!!! Victoria C.C. and proud of it!!!!

There are a few of the Div 2 and 3 teams that pay players (not a weekly wage but more of a incentive / expense payment )...if your club can afford it no harm...this seems the modern way.

William & Billy,

If I were to start a scurrilous rumour that I was getting paid to write poems about cricket and such like, do you think Victoria C.C. and the wider world at large might actually believe it and start paying me?

I think you're both onto something here, you'll each receive .005% royalties subject to contract and red tape negotiations......

And that's my final offer !