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Andy Kennedy

I wasn't the late one that day, Andy; punctual as always. Think I had five wickets that day at least four of which were stumpted by the great Bertie Styles. Memory starting to fade with time but I am sure at least one of the Connolly brothers was a victim. They of course deny all knowledge of the game in question. I think the opposition blamed a late night the day before, not an excuse you could often make playing against Queen's when half of our team were just arriving for the game from the previous evening (Tiger sometimes minus shoes, never mind laces!)

c'mon Wayne - do tell!!

Recent excuses....it's my granny's birthday, going to get a new pair of shoes, getting my hair cut, going to my dad's wedding!

Andy Burton

Are you sure ? Grahame McCarter is Killyclooney but I think William is Killymallaght.

Regarding excuses we had one classic towards the end of last season the details just escape me at the moment but we thought Macca was going to have a fit.
A couple of years ago one of the young guys in the 3rds told me he couldn't play as he was playing "in the band". When I asked him what he played he said "the triangle". In my own way I told him where I would like to put the triangle. This guy had real potential as an opening bowler.
We are having a Cricketers Christmas day out in the club on Saturday I think excuses will become a topic for some fun .
By the way Gilly the reason we had to stay and have a few drinks was because of the effort we put in and we were simply dehydrated. I found Comber, Newforge and Laurelvale particularily draining. Curiously when I played at home be it Muckamore , Saintfield or Ballymena ( in the 80's ) I always found myself in need of a few pints. How my liver survived two seasons with Mark and Davy Napier at Saintfield is one of the wonders of medical science.
But like every thing social habits have changed.

this may be lost on most but anybody playing for queens in 1997 away to dunmurry will know possibly one of the best excuses of all time albeit for being late. same day a certain bloke equalled the NCU record for stumpings! timmy browne may have picked up a few wickets

I heard of guy saying he couldn't play cricket cause he had a library book to return.

Excuses not 2 play:

Some classic posts!!

Did i hear a former paid player, who played at a certain East Belfast Club, once told his Captain that he was unavailable due to playing in a "Snooker Comp"????!!! WTF????

Ivan

Re Porterfield read Killyclooney not killymallaght !!

excuses

ive heard plenty of excuses for not playing cricket.
but the worst excuse was one of our players refusing to go for xmas drinks at the club last year 'because x factor was on'...WTF!!!

Excuses

Too many men let woman dictate whether or not they play cricket now, its a common thing in my own club and I know its the same everywhere else. I love hearing stories of years ago from Ivan McCombe, John McCormick, Andy Clement etc about the away trips they used to have at Armagh and Laurelvale, they used to play the game then sit for hours and drink and have a laugh with the opposition. Nowadays its a case of as soon as the match is over its a race to the cars!!

Iav kept quiet on the players moving debate which I assume was caused by me soo ial admit that yes I did contact two players from Templepatrick and they said they were happy playing Section 2 and I wished them all the best. It happens everywhere and I know there has been players at my club approached but thats cricket and thats life!!

Re Niall

A player turned up late. About 5 minutes before the match was due to start. He said 'sorry I am late but if I play today the wife has threatened to divorce me.' Contra to the advice I gave him he didn’t play and I had to quickly get a player from a lower side to stand in.
He stopped playing altogether a year later. Always wonder how happy they are now!!

Cant play at the weekend I'm afraid I'm playing for Northern Ireland against Wales in the Carling Nations Cup in Dublin!!!!

We thought it was a fair excuse

From a more "mature" player, for a midweek match...

"sorry skip, the doc tells me I have an irregular heartbeat and have to have my heart stopped and restarted again that night! Should be OK for Saturday tho!"

Re Niall & excuses.

Don't know if I could list 10, but my favourite from last season was 'I can't play this Saturday skip - I have a chess competition.'

I don't mind chess, but surely cricket isn't that boring.

Ivan a new subject for you. In an age where lots of kids appear to be starting off but fail to become available when they get past 16-18 (demon drink and the opposite sex I guess ....are you allowed to say sex on this forum?) what about a listing of the top ten excuses for not being available.
I have heard of kids birthday party, shopping, hangover, going out that night and one peculiar one from long ago ‘doing a ballroom dancing exam’. Believe that when told the captain had to be physically helped into his seat at selection! Sure there are lots more.