Forum

Everybody has a valid point to the debate about players moving clubs (at least the ones who put there proper names to it!!) People will move to other clubs for whatever reason-ambition,money or incentives,"tapped up", re-location of job/country, no longer required at a higher level, misdermeanours!! It really doesnt matter because not everybody will be happy with someone moving from "their club" to another.

As someone who has moved for a few of the above reasons I understand a few of the arguments!!-wasnt kicked out from any club btw!!
Good luck to whoever- may it be a club or person who shows any ambition. Some clubs will win-some will lose, thats sport in this world we live in.

P.S Clarence, By my omission from your list I'm still waiting on a brown envelope from North Down!!!

The comments made by Clarence are valid but I respectfully suggest that the 80s were a different era to today's game in Northern Ireland and we are dealing with a different situation. There were more teams & more cricketers were being produced by schools. Presently, to which I alluded in an earlier posting, players are now being "produced" by the clubs through their own coaching schemes and I can see how it "sticks in the craw" to have other clubs with much vaunted youth development programmes having to sneak around behind backs. I firmly believe (and no-one has posted a disagreement) that any approach should be made through the clubs and this would give the opportunity to discuss the merits of the offer rather than a wee lad's head being turned with e.g. the offer of free car insurance or other financial inducement as against his future with his home club. My old granny used to have a saying about "far off fields" but I can't remember the rest of it!

So what exactly is the point that you are making? Every sport whether amateur or not will have people who move from club to club, for whatever reason. It might be for money it might be for the chance to win more trophies but if thats what they want to do fair play to them. With regards tapping, being from a country club i will say that when i was skipper i certainly contacted several people with regards the possibility of moving to us, i do not see the problem with this especially in the age where plenty of clubs have the money to spend this has to be done to try and continue to compete if the money isnt there. As we arent in the city and not in the premier league, we arent going to get new members very often without a bit of effort to get them.

Reggie
Trust me I am not out of my depth here. Although I bow down to your weight of wickets and club loyalty here. Do you not see the point I am trying to discuss here as lovely a guy as Paul is?

Dan - I'm too old, cynical & grumpy to really worry what people, apart from my immediate family, think about me.

Thanks Sid. However this is not a personal vendetta against Paul. He was indeed a fine player.
He is just one of many amateurs that were and are today paid. I would understand more if he quoted his coaching involvement and input to the clubs rather than no answer at all.
The North West now is a fest of who can pay most for others PLAYING talent. I fear that's the way NCU will go unless it is managed better.

I consider myself lucky and honoured to have skippered Paul McCrum in his season as a player at Muckamore. From the night Andy Clement and myself meet with him in the Down Royal he was the most professional professional I have known.
Despite living in Armagh at the time he was first to arrive and last to leave practice TWICE a week. ( he missed one evening all season ). He kept himself superbly fit and he offered advice not only to myself but to all the young players in our squad.
He certainly didn't come looking for us but we sought him out as we had a sponsor who was prepared to help us establish ourselves in the top flight for the first time in 24 years.
A top player and a top bloke.

Hey guys this is what my mummy calls me!
Two crusty old topics that never age-pen names and poaching. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and in debate we all beg to differ so let's not be personal. I can only speak from my experience at North Down (but not for North Down) and say that, like many clubs, our club has always been divided on 'professionalism' but we took democratic decisions that we felt were in our best interests and moved with the times. Professionalism has been part of the local game since 1887 so there is no argument that it is a modern phenomenon. Our club was split on local pros in the Nineties but a vote was taken and the majority went with this strategy. Later in the Nineties it was reversed and the rest is history. Many players came to Comber because of personal ambition and some for payment. Michael Reith was an inspiration, Raman Lamba was a master, the McCrum brothers were brilliant-totally dedicated and I must add still very popular at The Green. Best value for money? Try Davy Kennedy, Johnny Terrett, Michael Turkington, Ian Cleland, Paul Davidson, Andrew White, Davy Napier, Gavin Rogers, Billy Dale, Lawrence Hunter et al because they didn't cost a cent. They all wanted to play at North Down. That's the ultimate compliment to a well-structured club and I'm sure I could write the same for Waringstown over the years as many of their top players joined the club from other clubs. If your club is doing all the right things some players will join for all the right reasons and there's nothing wrong with that. As for me, I've always been one-club man, but I respect the right of players and clubs to do what they feel is right for them. We did 'poach' Michael Reith in 1980 but we felt it was justified, and after 30 years I think Waringstown have just about forgiven us!

Paul, what can i say about these guys, the stats dont lie about your quality over the years, and i am sure everyone of those clubs felt the influence of your time there. I dont get not putting your name on posts on here, if your opinion is worth hearing then have the balls to put your name beside it, otherwise its irrelvant to me.

Anonymous - seems you are out of your depth discussing cricket with Paul McCrum! He delivered wherever he played and that was his prerogative, while behind your anonymity i suspect you never achieved.

While I have my own opinions on the "tapping" debate, I don't feel that the opinions of an experienced player like Paul McCrum can be disregarded on the matter. He may have had more clubs in Ulster than most, but I would imagine that few/none of them could or would dispute his efforts and influence; often even continuing after he had moved on. There is usually a good reason why the services of a player/coach are in demand. Surely his would be a massively different case than those of no-marks going to clubs for cash handouts or other incentives; or indeed clubs trying to tempt teenagers to move along.

Lets face it anyone who has a worthwhile opinion or viewpoint on Ulster cricket deserves to be listened to, even if they don't see fit to put their own name to it.....

RE: Anonymous

Paul McCrum was a fine cricketer but you forgot about his stints at Armagh, CIYMS, Lisburn and Muckamore.

Well Paul I see you are not really adding anything to the debate. Best not replying then.
I am just stating facts that you continue to ignore.

Anonymous, i never played cricket to gain your or anyone's respect - for it would not be worth having! God gave me a talent and i used it my way and have zero regrets of where i used it, just fabulous memories. Like Stevo, no name so no courage - let's just say some are leaders, others followers and some just so damn weak they do nothing for most of their lives but talk and remain Anonymous...........

Andy K :

I don't really agree with much, if anything, of what you say to be honest. Not unlike my opinion, at times, about some of your umpiring decisions!!