Forum

Re Stephen :

So Colin Andrews & Charlie McCrum are joing CI too then??

Many people forget that a lot of squads out there, over the past few years and currently, have a few "outsiders" within them. For example, the most successful team over the past ten years or so, North Down, have had a number : Connell, Parsons, Coetzee, Russell, Dazell, D.K., Turk, Sutherland, Khan, Cleland to name a few, but many of them have joined them for cricketing reasons. It is not like they would turn them away from their gates when the rocked up for pre season!

Hi Paul,

I must have been misunderstood, the 'tongue and cheek' nature of my comment was apparently missed. I think you will find that CI will be more than alright for the future, plenty going on around that, but needless to say thats not a debate I need to get into or justify on this forum. have a good weekend everyone!

The facts about CI youth..

Last season we had U-15, U-13 and U-11 teams all competing in their respective leagues and cups. On every junior practice night we had 40 - 50 kids up training. Our 10 week kwik cricket programme would have 70+ kids there every week. Three of our U-11s made NCU winter training squads and one made NICA academy. This is all down to our amazing coaches, senior players who would volunteer and parents.

Youth coming through our senior teams..

Last year I would say that approx eighty percent of our regular 2nd xi players would have been 25 or under, our 3rd xi (league champs two years in a row) had a policy of at least 2 under-15s every week, our mid-week league team (who finished joint second) was majority U-15s and now this season we are putting out a 4th xi because we want to give as many people weekend cricket as possible.

So yeah there's no youth coming through at all at CI is there...? Also no club development or club strength the whole way through the club either...?

Someone also made a comment about the players that we bring in not contributing in terms of coaching or passing on advice. These guys would regularly stay behind after nets with both senior and players to help them work on their games. Every one of them (contrary to what he believe's even taito..u were the pioneer!) has had an outstanding impact on the club and the players within it. They are outstanding cricketers and also top guys, I don't think anyone in CI would have a bad word to say about them. As a CI born and bred player, you can only learn from players like them!

We are an ambitious club, we have modern and excellent facilities and this Premier League cricket is all new to us so we may make mistakes.. but hopefully one day we'll be able to develop some Senior Irish Internationals through our youth set-up.

We have a good giggle at all the rumours about us but when people try and make claims about us, we want to try and put the record straight.

well if that is the case about ci being a maturing team then it will be interesting to see were they will be in about 5- 10 years time. The money certainly wont be there for ever and with no youth the only way is down im afraid.

whats that they say about fine wines??.....dont forget Hughsie and Luco, they are getting on a bit too.... as for the comment, like our team apparently, it was very mature :-)!!!

Good to see CI are bringing through the youngsters. So their team looks like Heasley, Hewitt, McCrum, Gelston, Cooper, Pro, Hanna, Charlie McCrum allegedly. Leaves 3 spots available for CI men or money men? Imagine not CI man in their team, truly pathetic!!!! Kirsty is right, welcome to Belmont old peoples home - only a metter of time before Bumper moves across to East Belfast

Ricky, dont knock it til you have tried it, you should see what they pay me ;-)!!

On a more serious note, i dont think that i should really write on this forum what my thoughts are on that comment... Rather, I would like to invite you to come down to CI some Saturday in season.

You will see a lot of people who have joined CI for the love of cricket and passion for their club on and off the field, which could be debated is in short supply in a some places..

Great to see someone joining ciyms for the love of the game and not the money.

Re. BC

Oh, major sour grapes there, evidently not leaving Carrick on good terms with everyone.

And as nicknames go, surely "Donkey" is a fairly rough one for a young fella to be lumbered with!

Welcome on board Barry and his wrist!! looking forward to seeing you (and your wrist ;-)) defending Fortress Belmont this summer :-)!! We are delighted to have you on join us!

Well put Dan. Roger doesn’t do magnanimity so excuse his public personal catharsis – this is just his way of thanking me for 13 years service.

The only club cricketers that can claim to be truly loyal are those that pay subs year after year for the privilege of playing and I’m sure the irony isn’t lost on anyone with the comments now emanating from Carrick’s paymaster.

If it was all about the dough I’d be unfolding the wheelchair for Carrick again this year.

This must be a different Michael Gilmour from the one I suggested should open at the start of last season – the one the chairman of selectors (no prizes) insisted wasn’t good enough. I hope Donkey can live up to these new-held expectations.

The wrist is fine Roger thanks for asking.

Gareth

You do understand that if you are at a smaller club trying to progress that you are not delighted by the phone calls (or web postings) from Premier clubs enticing your best players away……..yes?.........well that’s a general opinion.
To say that a general opinion means everyone then you are mistaken. I would say that your posting is a general opinion as well…. Not one I agree with…but a general opinion.

It’s obvious and correct in you saying

‘There is not one club anywhere in the country that hasn't approached a player and asked them to join their club. Not one!’

That does not mean that it is right to do so as publicly as this especially after mentioning loyalty in his posting. Now that was just silly.

Every club (since Inst dropped the qualification) are open doors. Any player wanting to play at a higher standard only need to approach that club. Simple.

Could Roger also maybe explain the ‘in strictest confidence’ quote?

That's right men, I once left my club Victoria I had first joined as a raw energetic 29yr old, to play with as I thought a bigger club. Yes the standard was higher, but it just was'nt the same and I felt I'd let my old skipper and my former team-mates down.
So straight next season, back I went and I'm still there,y es Loyality there's alot to be said for it!
Bye the way, went out and bowled a few overs in the park yesterday, its a bit muckie still and it was hard working up a head of steam in the 'gutters' but I did manage to hit the stump a few times.
Vic Jons Victoria C.C. (no payment req.)

re: OMG

I find it interesting that you value your own opinion so highly, that Roger is to take it as the general opinion. I thank you for attempting to speak for us all, but my personal opinion happens to be different. There is not one club anywhere in the country that hasn't approached a player and asked them to join their club. Not one!
I think it is an interesting idea that Roger has published Carrick's need for a wicketkeeper publically and I see no mention of a financial incentive.
From my visits to Carrick they have invested heavily in their facilities so I have no problem with them spending money on players.

Re : Roger Bell

So Roger, you are saying that Carrick do not lure players away from other clubs by offering them money then?!!!!

Pot, kettle, black springs to mind! Maybe you should have a cuppa from that kettle and a couple of those sour grapes along with it from your fruit bowl!

Maybe, just maybe, it isn't just about money when a player wants to leave a club...