Forum

Ryan, you did well sticking with that article and getting to the end where some sense finally appeared. Staffy's suggestion is good for us but not likely to happen for a lot of reasons. There's no issue with players bettering themselves but there is a conflict of interest when it comes to dual nationality and being able to qualify and subsequently re-qualify. You shouldn't be able to negotiate your nationality and while some people might find that "bigoted" or "ignorant" it is a fact of life. Look at other sports like football, rugby etc. They don't have a residential qualification. Maybe the ICC should ask big Jack Charlton to sort it out as he was the greatest producer of Irish internationals in the modern era.

R.E Paul Stafford article on Cricket Europe on Irish born players representing England

Paul has stated as follows...

"The four year residency period must remain for cricketers moving from full member countries or associates. However a cricketer who has played for an associate nation without having to undergo a residency period should be free to return to the associate with immediate effect if they are not required by the full member.

In other words, Ed Joyce would not have to serve 4 years to return to play for the country of his birth. A similar situation should apply to Eoin Morgan if he was picked and then discarded by England. Indeed Denmark I’m sure would warmly welcome Amjad Khan should the situation arise. However someone like Regan West who has qualified for Ireland through residency would have to re-qualify for Ireland if subsequently was selected and discarded by a full member"

Clear talking and total common sense that suits all parties, why cant the powers that be have a long hard look at this issue. Mr Stafford get applying for some ICC posts!

The only change to Pauls well thought out suggestion I would make that is you have to serve a 6 month "probation" period before returning to your original "Junior/assoicate" nation e.g Amjad Khan would have to wait 6 months before playing for Denmark again after representing England in the one dayers in the West Indies.

Will it ever change? Doubtful. Which is extremely bad news for Ireland

There must be a better way for dealing with the Ed Joyce and now the Eoin Morgan situation and I think it is an ICC decision. It is one thing to have dual nationality by birth but another to 'earn' it over four years and then win it back after another four years.
The situation is absurd and a joke in modern sport.

GRAND NATIONAL TIPS EWAY BLACK APALCHI , CLOUDY LANE , OFFSHORE ACCOUNT . ALSO FANCY JERED 250

Great start for Ireland in the ICC Trophy in S.A all shaping up nicely for our next World Cup qualification hopefully.

Wonder who Phil will recruit as our overseas players for the Friends Provident matches? Ravi Rampaul again, back in the West Indies squad bowled well last year for Ireland....or maybe his talented nephew Lendel Simmons?

Mr Ryder hasnt done too badly since he departed the Ireland scene with a black mark beside his name!

umpires dinner - congratulations to Judith for the organisation of the excellent event at Newforge last Friday. A great night and an excellent speaker in Denis Godfrey - very entertaining guy with a feel for the fun in cricket "down the club" - makes one wonder why clubs spend so much money "importing" speakers whose best days are behind them to tell stories of who they played with and all the old anecdotes of games that no-one remembered. Was at a dinner in a certain rugby club one night - no names but I heard a guy speak in detail about Scotland beating England with David Sole as captain - and he wasn't even in the team!! - rant over!!

Following the Irish action in South Africa closely through the great coverage on the other channel, a terrific start from the boys against Scotland from a team who will be looking to stamp their authority on the tournament.

Which four do we think might qualify for the World Cup. I'm going to go for Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and either Scotland or the shock troops from Afganistan!

I know a lot of the Irish guys read this website so congratulations from everyone at the Ulster Cricketer and good luck in the other matches. This was a huge step for Irish cricket and a performance up there with the best in recent times.
Well done everyone in SA.

FIRSTLY CONGRATS TO IRELAND ON GIVING SCOTLAND A SOUND THRASHING IN THE QUALIFIERS (MIGHT NEED TO GET MY 'BLARNEY ARMY' T-SHIRT READY)
I WAS AT THE ECB GRADE 1 COURSE OVER THE WEEKEND AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK KEITH AND TREVOR FOR A GREAT JOB WELL DONE.
IT WAS WELL SUPPORTED AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE EVEN BETTER NEXT YEAR...YOU CAN TEACH OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS.
ROLL ON THE SEASON!!!!!!!

Its all in our centenary booklet which we produced in 2006 so future generations will be kept informed.

As for Phil, dont mention it again!, his head is getting that big of late LOL!!

If anyone is interested in hosting Holywood for pre-season games on weekend 18/19th April can you please ring me on 07772 911498 or email me at david.kennedy@teletech.com

Graham,

Thanks for the info. I must admit, I haven't seen the plaque at your club but I suppose when you get beaten, the last thing you want to do is to have a look around LOL. It's interesting stuff. I hope you guys have the speach mounted in a prominent place or minuted as to where the records are stored for future historical 'dabblers' like me! I will make a point of jotting down their names the next time I get to Cregagh. That might not be for a while as Phil did such a bad job and got your seconds promoted!

To Steve Max

Just on the area you are discussing with Clarence, we now have a plaque up in the clubroom with the members names who served in the 1st World War and the members who made the ultimate sacrifice. We came across a minute book from the 1920's with all the names listed and the speech from the secretary at the time when the memorial ground was purchased. You never know where the clubs history is until you start looking for it, good luck to you if you are thinking about embarking on research of Dundrum, I found past players to be a great source of information, at Cregagh we have been very lucky to have past members such as Jimmy Irvine and Joe Ingram. Joe Ingram is no longer with us but the family put us in the right direction.

re neil gelston and jeff,the tickets are priced £35,tables of ten.

Let me know if you are interested? cheers

There's was box of Clarence's books in the Cricket Office at the House of Sport. That's where I got mine. And by the way Clarence there is an envelope in the box with a 'few quid' in it from other sales as well!! Hope it's still there when you call to collect.