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I'm not sure I agree with the arguement that moving the game will swell numbers attending and help Irelands cause for full ODI status. If so, then we as a cricket nation are doomed. Why can we not get the attendances to the games on weekdays here?? I know, because we haven't got the interest here, its that simple. So changing the day from Friday to Saturday may suit us for encouraging the people to go, I fear its for short term benefit. Other countries play their games during the working week, and whilst they maximise the pull of saturday cricket, they don't close down the whole of the ECB for it! I won't be going to watch either, I'd rather be watching Andy K making more rather poor decisions LOL
I think we need to get our heads on the bigger picture. It will be a travesty if Ireland play Pakistan at Stormont on both the Saturday and Monday in front of anything other than a full house. Ireland don't fear anyone anymore and if we get behind them it can lift the game at all levels. Get those young Junior players along and give them something to aspire to. There's more to this sport than standing on a park pitch , fielding and umpiring. We need heroes and in the current Irish teams we have many guys who can be called heroes. It might help if the Irish players on full time contracts but not in a county deal turned up at different grounds around the country on Junior night , did a bit of coaching , signed autographs and did a 15 minute chat on the places they have visited , the world class players they have played against etc. We want youngsters wanting to be the next Kevin O' Brien , the next Eoin Morgan, the next George Dockrell etc
I also think we need to make the Senior Cup final an "occassion" again. A day to renew friendships but also make it a special day for the players who are fortunate enough to play in the final. I understand the corporates wanting a Friday but surely the sponsor would get more out of it from a packed house. And rugby clubs have proved at their pre match dinners that you can get the corporates out on a Saturday on special occassions. Tickets at £25 to see world class players like Afridi, Gul and others seems good value when you think it's a tenner to watch Ballymena Utd v Dungannon Swifts in the Irish League to watch guys some of whom trap it further than others can kick it.
CANT believe that id ever agree with Tayto but fair play think he is 100% correct most clubs would deff support the senior cup final esp on a closed sat an if was me id go for it this year an evn suggest if both clubs agree they can postpone their game with NCU agreement ,an any clubs wanting too play can ? then next year closed fixtures as its a disgrace imo that we cant support the major showpiece . Someone said teams dont support other clubs fact is ive seen lots of clubs from all sections their as it cup final day in our beloved sport an think we should be backing our union in all the changes that their trying .As for 25£ thats resonable for days entertainment think its over 60£ see ODI in england so i for one will be their hopefully with as many juniors from Dundrum cc as when i started watching IRELAND PLAY you only went see the opposition but now their is two very competitive teams too enjoy an have say very few ive spoke too isnt PROUD of the workrate an superb performances that this fine squad have achieved an i think theirs a lot more too come SO HOPEFULLY THEIR WIL BE A BIG CROWD AT STORMONT for this is the next step in Irelands journey that can take them too the top table an i for one wish they every success.
Andy, I have to say i totally disagree. I think lots of players from many clubs in the NCU would travel to see the senior cup final. Like how it was in the past, huge crowds with people there to make a day of it, not necessarily supporting either team but supporting NCU cricket on the biggest day of the year. Surely this would also be more appealing to prospective sponsors for the following season too if they were to see such a well attended showpiece.
Obviously too late for this season and that is fair enough, but its good to hear from Roger that it is something that the NCU are considering.
on a different notes , any new signings in section 1? Andy magennis to saintfield, any others? and any new pro's?
The price for adult admission is set by Cricket Ireland, not the NCU.
The admission prices for adults is £25 for one match, or a double ticket for both matches is available for £40. Concessions are available for Senior Citizens, Associate Members, and special deals for juniors including free admission for school pupils as mentioned earlier.
This in my opinion represents excellent value for money, when compared with the prices charged for ODI's elsewhere, and the admission charges for other major sports such as football, rugby etc
Re: Gary Patton
Just to clarify that Lurgan 1st XI do now play on Sundays and have done so for the past couple of seasons
Re-£25.00
Was swaying towards going to stormont for the Pakistan Games, However £25...! - thats NCU you've made my mind up for me...! - still desperately striving for the real world and still desperately getting it completely wrong
I'm pretty sure the prices are set by Cricket Ireland not the NCU
Totally agree with Taito!
Irish Cricket needs its fans to show their support. Results on the park will only get us so far! The power of numbers will help Ireland's voice for gaining full ODI status, that’s a fact!
It means a great deal to the players when the crowds turn up, it shows that you care & you want to be a part of the development of Irish Cricket. Surely this is a far better way of showing it than being some ill informed armchair critic that likes to contribute to forums without any real understanding of the issue they wish to comment on!
People's points of view are crucial to a more rounded and developed pathway for Irish Cricket, however you only really have the right to be listened to if you are prepared to get along and support the team otherwise your comments don’t mean the paper/note board they are displayed on.
So please get along and show your support for a very hard working group who want to play at the highest level in ODI Cricket and that also want to make their country/countries proud of them!
Wouldn't agree with Cup final on a closed Saturday. Surely it is really only supporters of those teams involved who want to travel to see their teams play. I imagine that there is little evidence to suggest that no more than a very small number of players would travel to see a game in which their own club is not involved. Is that not the same in other sports.I mean, Liverpool fans are hardly likely to be heading down to Wembley for the FA cup final. No, we have few enough days for cricket for the junior players without taking out another one.
Today was yesterday's future Roger.
Go for it now!
Here we go again Gary - the minority dictating to the majority. Now where have we seen this before?
Officialdom can't win. If we want these matches we have to fit into Pakistan's schedule not worry about the possibility of re-arrangements for minority interests at club level. Sometimes you have to see the bigger picture.
Taito, thanks for your comments. I'm sure the vast majority of cricketers feel the same way regading the NCU's decision.
The NCU may well consider moving the Challenge Cup final to a closed Saturday in the near future, when the introduction of 8 team leagues should lead to less fixture congestion and give us a bit more room for manoevre.
Organisers caught between a rock and a hard place. Go for midweek and no-one comes, go for a Saturday and people would rather be playing cricket. Not sure what the solution is. Still, I'm a big fan of the pricing of tickets for school kids. Let's hope for some sunshine.
I have to say I think the NCU making the pakistan game a free date is a great move. We need to support the Irish team if they are to move forward, big crowds at home games will certainly raise the profile of these fixtures and getting a decent crowd there will mean more chance of all the international games not being lost to Dublin.
I would like to see the NCU take a similar step the NCU cup final, play it on a saturday make it a free date, you would see a massive swelling in the attendance for what is the biggest game in the NCU calendar.
Never a truer word spoken Taito!
Re: Ireland v Pakistan ODI's Saturday 28 & Monday 30 May
The NCU has already made Saturday 28th May a closed date for all cricket under its jurisdiction, and notified clubs and schools accordingly.
We hope that the other Unions will consider doing likewise, allowing players to attend these ODI's and give Ireland a big welcome in their first matches back after their exploits at the ICC World Cup in India.
Cricket Ireland has made generous concessions for Under 16's who will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult, and for £8 for both matches (or £5 for one match) if unaccompanied. School parties will be admitted free of charge (including pupils over 16), with only accompanying teachers being asked to pay an entry fee.
I would appeal to all cricket lovers to please come along to Stormont on 28 & 30 May and support the Irish team and see the Pakistan stars in action. Let's fill the ground and make it another memorable occasion for Irish cricket.
