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Rugby ommissions.
The Goodrich brothers John, Adrian and the late Alex. All played senior rugby for Ulster and played Senior cricket for Ballymena , John also played senior cricket for Muckamore. Adrian was 12th man for Ireland at cricket and sub for Ireland at rugby. He also captained Ulster and Irish schools at both sports.
Two from CI from days gone by...Warren Feeney, Linfield, Glentoran and Northern Ireland and Stephen Baxter, Linfield and now Crues manager both played at Belmont.
Paddy Doherty won all ireland with DOWN and played for Dundrum . ps he hit a bus going over the bridge in game one day
Football/Cricket
The late Archie McQuilken was a double international, playing football for Northern Ireland amateurs and cricket for Ireland. John McCormick tells the story of footballing legend Peter Doherty coming to cricket matches at Moylena and walking around with Archie trying to persuade him to sign for Doncaster Rovers where he was manager.
Noel Maguire Dundrum / Bangor
Davy Mills Dundrum & Drumaness/ Glentoran/Portadown
following the recent poll on joint rugby/cricket players - what about one on joint soocer/cricket players. I am aware of at least one from the Ballygomartin Road - Cecil Robinson and Ricky Adair is another.
A little slip up there with the sub-heading of yesterday's post, should read Steve Finn becoming world class fast bowler (not fat). He's anything but !
Good second win for England in the ODI's v Pakistan, out in Abbey Dabby and must forget to congratulate Ireland on their victory in the I.C.C. over in Mombassa v Kenya, keeping themselves well ontop of the tree.
'The future's bright, the future's cricket' !........And top of the morning to ya !!
You're very welcome Brendan and yes you're correct the 'old ones' are hard to beat.
By the way Caleb is my first name, but call me whatever you like, it won't be anything like the names being hurled in my direction today !
(Better go....need to take cover)!!
Calum,
The old ones are always the best. Thanks for keeping some humour on the forum.
I'm in the 'dog-house' (again)!
Or should that be the Pig-house? I've committed the unpardonable once more this year and forget that it was Valentines day yesterday, doubtless to say Mrs. B. is none best pleased!
So by way of a lame apology and a little self rebuke, I'm dedicating the following verse's not just to my lovely wife but to all the cricket W.A.G.S. out there...(You ladies put up with alot)! It's called....
The Pig
It was Saturday evening, late September
We won our Cricket match I well remember
I went strolling down the street in drunken pride
But my knees were all a-flutter
And I landed in the gutter
And a pig came up and lay down by my side
Yes,I lay there in the gutter
Thinking thoughts I dare not utter
When a maiden fair passing by did softly say
'You can tell a man who boozes
By the company he chooses'
And the pig got up and slowly walked away !
Best fielders:
1-James Shannon (superb at backward point)
2- Andrew White
3- Greg Thompson
4- Ryan Haire ( bullet of an arm , superb outfielder)
5-Ally McAllmont ( superb cover fielder)
The best infielder that I have come across though in the local game is Bob Robinson from the NW. Incredibly athletic, unreal fielder at backward point. He must have saved a serious amount of runs in that position over the years.
Matthew...
Well done on the petition and good to see productive chat on the forum to support the status of a struggling club. Let us know how you get on with the council.
I would like to sincerely thank to everyone who signed our petition opposing Craigavon Borough Council's proposed 575% increase on what Victoria Cricket Club would be charged in 2012.
The petition amassed over 1,000 signatures in only 4 days!
A meeting involving a selection of councilors on Thursday 9th February, were presented with the petition, and the meeting rejected the proposed charges.
Officers of Victoria will be meeting with councilors throughout the week, in the hope of finding a figure which both parties are happy with. Hopefully, further discussions will lead to an agreed fee for 2012.
We will keep everyone up to date with proceedings via our website, www.victoriacricketclub.co.uk and will email you all whenever a final decision has been reached.
Thank you again
Matthew Parks
Victoria CC
Treasurer
I have not been on the forum for a while and all the chat re paid players is amusing. The reality is that is the way sport and life are going. What and why people do things is up to them.
What is of paramount importance is that all of the good things about cricket remain. Team building, individual challenge, character building and lifelong friendships, and as WG Grace says “A cricketer's life is a life of splendid freedom, healthy effort, endless variety, and delightful good fellowship.”
My worry is a lot of the good things in local cricket are being lost in forums, the rush of society etc and what is the paid phenomenon creating? Some of the best clubs in the ncu are Drumaness, Dunmurry, Derriaghy, Muckamore, Armagh, Laurelvale and Donacloney. Probably because they adhere to the principles of WG Grace and embrace the game as it is.
Every so often I drop into the forum to read the banter - If rumours were to be believed Inst have paid the majority of the team for years - no-one ever thought I got paid though - wonder why that is?
As for CI rumours re who is coming and who is getting paid what - I am sure they are all greatly exaggerated and if they want to spend the money let them. The reason they seem to get a bit more stick is that their results have not been great in recent years. I think this is more due to the fact the team has changed every year and players have come and gone - if they keep a settled side for a couple of years they could be a threat. It is very difficult to generate a team spirit that will get you through the close matches without a settled team. Liked Coops comment re getting paid for runs in front of square - I, like him , would struggle to generate much income over the season! Now if it was £5 for every run through gulley - I would at least have enough to buy a quarter of Jeremy Bray for the season depending on who you talk to!!
