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8 or 10 team league?
My personal opinion is that we should go for an 8 team league and here are my reasons why:
1) Local Improvement
Teams will be playing against better teams as opposed to waiting / try to beat the weak teams. If cricketers / clubs have any ambition then they will want to pit themselves against the best there is at a standard they should be playing and beat them.
2) International Improvement
As a result of point 1 hopefully we will produce better players having played a much more competitive standard on a regular basis.
3) Increase competition
If there are only 8 teams with 1 up and 1 down then it will be harder to get promoted. This will/should make things more competitive.
4) Free up Saturdays
Irrespective of what people think, the facts are that we are losing a whole month from our cricket season due to weather. This would prevent fixture back log and possibly attract more cricketers due to the lesser committment of playing Sundays etc.
5) Balance Standards
There is quite a gulf in standard between the best in the Premier league and the rest. Rather than players turning up on a Saturday and playing out of their depth it would provide a more even keel of a playing field i.e were the teams should be playing
It's obvious that giong for an 8 team league will make it more difficult for my club (Dundrum) but as well as taking into consideration the impact this will have we all should think about the bigger picture and the state of cricket in general.
How many people loved it when Ireland went to the world cup and wanted more but yet when the Union propose to do something about making this happen more often we all stick to our clubs and stay short sighted.
Don't like to hogg the forum here, but would just like to eat a bit of humble pie as it were!
Having taken the time to read through all the proposals for to-nites A.G.M. They are all fairly good,common sense ideas for the 2011 season and I for one don't have an issue with any of them.
However I was critical of restructuring and reducing league size, but having read the proposals properly; Serial 9,10 and 11 are particular good ideas.
They allow for a slight reduction in the upper leagues of Senior Section and Division 1 but allow the bottom league of these sections to remain as they are, with two teams dropping down from above and only one going up.
Meaning our league does not get even smaller but should even increase, hence more matches and more quality.
Well thought out by the Cricket Directive people!
The Park-Ranger
Now we are singing from the same 'hym-sheet', no all as before at our A.G.M. although we think we have enough for a third team next season and will probably go ahead and enter one.
So the 'Good ship,Victoria' is making progress, except for one small problem.
I think that boy Gerry Mallin, is onboard and hiding down below in the decks somewhere!!
If you find him before me, do us all a favour and throw him "Overboard"!!!
Saturday 17th 5:05pm
Gilly enjoy your ale tonight son, I certainly will be!!!
Mabye they'll listen to us now!!!
RACING TIPS 1 pistol jack 245 downpatrick 2 the only boss 215 catterick . 3 fame and glory 3pm newmarket . ps john by the way what is wrong with wanting the best for dundrum as its the junior clubs that keep cricket going not the premier clubs , imo it should be 8 teams in premier try it for 2 seasons see how it works then if clubs see its good for all then vote for 8team leagues . pps i still think if we played more 40 over 2 night derby matches & less sunday it be better & i hope they dont change it this year but we will abide by the majority
No, I agree with you there Vic. The cricket has to come first. It is ludicrous to prioritise watching a football match, compared to playing for your cricket club. There is a cricket season and there is a football season, let them remain as such.
Wasn't able to make the AGM tonight because of other commitments. Any interesting goings on? All happy on the good "ship" Victoria?
Hope Gerry Mallin and Vic Jons don't give up on the cricket, rumour has it they have aquired one of the tall ships and will be taking up a life on the ocean waves next summer. All being well we'll see them next spring
john . i will debate if you say what club you from jeff dundrum cc ps ive talked 2 PREMIER CLUBS who dont want it so im not alone alone +im retired but still feel passionate about CRICKET & DUNDRUM ( for the record dundrum 1st team were 90% againest 8 teams but ther you go so it s not all about SHORTSIGHTNESS by the way im blind an pis**d
Park-Ranger, don't tell me you run after Glenavon as well!
Its ok during the winter months, but when half the team can't make themselves available until end of May and then off they run again, up to Mournview Pk from mid August onwards.
As Gareth says, the league tables don't lie and we finished bottom.(Victoria).
Much improvement needed for new season!!
Ah Gerry,thought you had emigrated to the North Pole. If you want I'll buy you the plane fare? One-way ticket ofcourse!!!
Thanks Vic - took a while to get over the Muckamore dinner - I mean financially from putting my hand in my pocket for PLO'H!
Have to disagree with John but having been at more NCU AGMs than I really care to count I have to say that clubs vote for themselves - ergo the many hours wasted over the "pros. debates".
As for Gilly and the Whites - if I'm correct did Mr. McCoubrey not get rid of Paul Kirk because he couldn't take the club to new heights? Jimmy Brown & the Ballymena reject Tommy Wright are certainly gonna take you to new places next season - Armagh, Ards, Bangor, etc. etc.!! Best ground in the country? Why did you have to play early season matches away then?
Vic what about ye, i haven,t gone away you know !! just watching what is being said on the forums, seeing your forum relationship with Steph blossom twos company & threes a crowd and all that !!
And i know there was a big sale of your local paper it just about fills the dart board ?? are you going to the NCU dinner or AGM i might see you there ??
True enough Duck, can't deny it,but that was all before I saw the 'light' and found Cricket.
I hope if rumours are true and your gonna start playing next season, its not Duck by name and Duck by nature. Why not give yourself a more agressive name! What about, let me think......? yes I know, 'Smasher'! ! !
Good man Gilly, yea, " You gotta keep practicing if ya wanna reach the top"!
Re Lis Dis.
As with cricket, league tables don't lie and Glenavon are where they are on merit. Distillery were unlucky not to get a point but thats what happens when you don't take your chances.
With BISC being withdrawn they are deemed relegated along with Portadown. Donacloney are safe. With the points from BISC matches being withdrawn, would individual performances in those matches now be considered void?
Having read through the resent posts its obvious that it is cricket and not football that the posters specialise in. Glenavon FC (Victoria CC's way of filling the winter months) will indeed finish in the upper echelons of the Irish League, despite our recent display against Distillery.
How it would be nice to do the double over both Portadown FC and Portadown CC this season...
Surely that is a bit short sighted Jeff. If every club only voted for themselves then we will get nowhere - the question is not how will this effect it my club, it is how will this effect league cricket going forward.
In my opinion 8 teams would be a good idea and I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with that, however it should be for the right reason!
