Forum

re Keith Ogle

You can apply for grants even though the ground isn't yours.

Re: Millparks ground

as Keith has put cloneys case forward i will do the same for ourselves like keith says we too were given criteria which has to be in place for next season we already have sightscreens and plans are in place regarding covers also our square has been put to bed last week we have people coming in to help with the wickets so they should be in good nick for next season!!! we still arent promoted yet so this could all be a bit premature

Andy,
The comparison is straightforward as it involves a government minister publicly admonishing a governing body of sport for its senior management and pointing out that it could affect future government funding unless changes are made. Jim Gracey produced an excellent article some time back, but the minister's input has been well documented on http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland for weeks. The rights and wrongs are irrelevant, it is the interaction of politics/politicians and sport that was being highlighted. You have been fortunate over the years that the resident MP for North Antrim supported sport but didn't meddle in it!

wylie - unless i am mistaken donacloney have managed to secure promotion this year without a pro and with a team made up from the village. They have invested some resource in bringing a coach into the community to promote cricket at grass roots in the area.
As highlighted by keith ogle the club does not own its own ground and as such cannot get a grant. Locals are offering to build sight screens and raise funds for covers.
Surely this is the sort of grass root cricket development we need more of. It is a good news story that the various cricket development bodies could get behind and support. That support could be leniency on regulations and perhaps funding assistance. A lot of clubs got covers a few years ago from the icc tournament here which assisted greatly.
I have to confess to knowing zip all about millpark.

I'm not quite sure that the comparison between the Zimbawe situation & the Minister for DCAL is valid - see "features". I admit to having a limited knowledge of the IFA saga apart from Jim Gracey's articles where he describes how certain individuals appear to have acted at variance with legal advice. A contributory factor in the breakdown of apartheid was the isolation of SA as a world sporting power and anything that highlights the awful situation in Zimbawe is to be welcomed. If the the poor souls there had oil or other commodity Blair & Bush would have been in there with a roar - a la Saddam - taken the dictator out & allowed sport to help to heal the wounded society.

The Union has well publicised minimum ground criteria for clubs wishing to play in the Premier League and Section 1 (see NCU website under regulations). This has been pointed out to the 2 Clubs concerned and if they can give us the necessary assurances that thay will have these (eg: wheeled covers, sightscreens, proper scoring facilities etc.) in place before the start of the 2011 season, there will be no question about them not being promoted. We are not going to tell clubs how they should or should not spend their hard earned money, but if they wish to progress there are cetain things that must be done in fairness to the other clubs playing at the higher level to ensure that the current much improved standards are preserved. Our grounds convenor Neil Hunter does an excellent job and is always willing to give advice to clubs.

Just to clarify the situation, ballymenas net run rate is quite a bit better than ours so in order for us to stay up we have to beat instonians and lurgan and ballymena need to lose against carrick

I would agree wholeheartedly with Brendon and Wayne.(The teas were always brilliant at the 'Cloney). The Union is there to promote cricket. It's in all our interests to ensure clubs thrive, and to keep the game moving forward. The big issue I have always had has been the spending of money on hired guns before spending on facilities. When clubs spend money on professionals without doing anything to improve their squares, I think the Union can then insist on application of the guidelines.

Re Wayne and others on promotion to Section 1 and the Ground Requirements

Wayne how is it "ludicrous" to have ground requirements in place for the Premier League and Section 1?
Surely there has to be some sort of minimum standard in place to play at the higher levels?
Having umpired both teams this year there is no doubting their playing ability but that is only one part of the equation for promotion.
What if Millpark and Donaghcloney do well in Section 1 (without having made the required ground requirements) and gain promotion to the Premier League then would you be happy for them to play in the Premier League without sightscreens or proper ground covers?

Thanks Ed.& Wylie,

Well then if it turns out that N.R.R. settles the bottom of the premier league fair enough, but from a neutral's perspective, it would be great if the game on 11th. Sept. Lurgan-v-D'patrick was not just 'a dead rubber' so to speak !

Surely what would be a tasty treat for cricket fans, would be D'patrick vying for a last chance of survival in the top status and Lurgan in front of home fans, out to prove that this season's poor showing was only 'a blip' in form and go out of the premier league (temporarily), in 'a blaze of glory' !

Who knows what the out-come maybe ? I'm not a betting man, but if I was I'd bet on this one sure winner, Donaghcloney, Millpark, along with Lurgan all playing against eachother next season in section one, will be great for local cricket and cricket enthusiasts,fans etc. from all around the local surrounding areas !

These games will all be played as practical 'derby' matches and should be thoroughly entertaining, so I do hope as the last poster states, no minor technicalities prevents either team from taking up their rightfully earned mantle in the higher section !

Even better, with 3rd. spot there for the taking this Sat. in section 3, maybe Victoria C.C. could be joining our 'slightly' more illustrious neighbours in a couple of seasons !!

(What's the odds on that one ?)

hopefully if there are any issues with donacloney and millpark clubs in the leagues will assist in the same way they have cville, muckamore, woodvale etc over the years and allow fixtures to be played away from home if needs be. it would be ludicrous for teams not to be relegated or promoted due to ground technicalities.

Well spoken Keith.
I played at the Factory ground nearly fifty years ago and it was always a good cricket place with plenty of atmosphere. I'm sure it is still the same so good luck on your return to a higher section. I'm sure the NCU committee will help your club and from what I read on this forum you have an expert just a few miles down the road in Neil Hunter who continues to do a lot of good work on ground improvements.

If Donaghcloney's ground is not fit for section 1 then it is the first we have heard of it. We have been given a list of criteria such as covers, sight screens etc.This will mean a lot of hard work and fundraising. We cannot apply for grants as the ground is not yet signed over to us but hopefully this will be soon. It would be a pity for both clubs not to be able to compete in a higher league as the grounds are two of the few cricket only greens in the province. The fact that both clubs would be playing Lurgan next year is quite an incentive.It would be great if the NCU could give both clubs assistance and advice and help ensure that both teams rightfully take their hard earned place in the higher league

could any1 enlighten me on the situation regarding donacloney and millpark have heard the ground arent fit for section 1 does this mean laurelvale and armagh will remain if the situation isnt resolved? or will templepatrick stake theyre claim surely armagh and laurelvale would be remain as templepatrick in my opinion are not as good of a side?

Vic/Andy

Lurgan host Downpatrick on the 11th September as well