Forum

Although I haven't a clue and I'm negative and bitter according to Paul Staford, it seems there are plenty of others that share my views.
I think there is mileage in having the serious league games at the front end of the season and another competition at the back end, possibly starting earlier and of shorter duration. It won't improve the weather but it will make it easier to fulfil fixtures.
First three leagues of 8 teams and the rest in section four. All cup games on Sundays including Irish Senior Cup. Second competition to start in mid August possibly 20-30 overs, maybe involving North-West clubs to give it additional interest. Starting date unfortunately 2010 season.

How do we get the rules to cover a season like this ? But Senior teams pulling out of fixtures and handing points to teams in the relegation zone just can't be right. But is playing on a mud heap with a bar of soap a fair contest. If the NCU directive is to have a Premier League of 16 over two divisions why not play this "serious " cricket under different rules to the remainder . Maybe have stricter rules on covers ,ground sheets.water hogs,quality artificial wickets , quality professionals, rearrangements etc..Maybe have a situation were there is a play off between the bottom team in Section Two and the top "qualifying " club from Section Three to determine who plays where in the following season.
If you look back over the past ten seasons and analysis the number of games NOT played by teams outside the top two leagues then I would guess a "no rearrangement " policy would just tidy things up. Maybe we need to appoint a Premier League supremo charged with ensuring we have a real best v best contest and attract a sponsor and prize money that makes investment in facilities and players easier.
In fact would it be totally wrong to make a proposal to the NCU AGM that from 2009 season the clubs elect the Board of Directors / Committee call it what you will . ( I would suggest that this should include some Non Exec types not affiliated to any club ). Full stop.After that this elected executive of about 11 people take over all the decision making including what rules we play under.That way hopefully decisions will be made solely in the " interests of the game " and not in a "everyone looking after themselves " approach.
Radical thinking but we daren't carry on as we are.

Paul Doherty seems to think that we at Academy casually sold our ground for housing without any due concern for the future. Well let me tell you, not all ground sales are worth millions. We didn't have any choice but to sell as the sports club was in serious debt.

It goes without saying that everyone would have preferred to keep our ground. That was 20 years ago and yet, thanks to the commitment of a few devoted people, we're still hanging in there without a ground. I think we deserve a bit of support for managing to survive (and some clubs have been good to us including PSNI), not to be criticised as if we'd acted irresponsibly.

No excuses in Armagh other than rain and lots of it unfortunately :(

Jeff

I have great sympathy for Dundrum's position as I know exactly what it's like struggling at the bottom.

Although I no longer play for Lurgan I feel it is a sad day for the club. But it was inevitable it was going to happen. I spoke at the AGM about the need to play Sunday cricket having been at the sharp end of trying to get a team out Friday after Friday.

One thing I can refute is the suggestion they would get a team out if they had a chance of promotion or to avoid relegation. Not true. They couldn't get a decent team out on a Friday this time last year or the year before in a dire situation in Section 1 so they will hardly get one in a meaningless match (to them at least)in Section 2. I'm not even sure if they had 11 players last week to play Downpatrick and those that lost a days wages to watch it rain weren't going to do the same again.

One player told me that when you ask for the first Friday afternoon off you get it. The second you get it off but your boss is really cheesed off. By the third Friday you don't even ask.

Playing Sunday after Sunday isn't the answer either as players have families and social lives as well outside cricket and the NCU have to recognise that it is an amateur sport.

Jeff it may have been a tongue in cheek remark of yours but golf is becoming a more attractive option by the day. No points for anyone because of the rain it NOT working and it is driving people from the game.

Match today - D'aghy V Carrick
Unless i am totally wrong, North Down have yet again accommodated a match that would not otherwise have been played. North Down not even playing!!! Both grounds of the Clubs involved were obviously not playable, and for North Down to then provide The Green for the game is going well beyond the norm, particularly with the Senior title still up for grabs. Great example of the spirit of cricket, and well done to all at North Down (especially I suspect Raymond Moreland!).

Re Paul Stafford

Interesting response from a columnist on the other channel ! Questioning the idea of Lurgan being docked points for not fulfilling a fixture - if I remember right you were wanting to do away with Section Four as teams there weren't fulfilling fixtures. Your idea also that Lurgan are just putting out teams in September for other clubs' benefit is just about what I would expect from you, thats very kind of Lurgan to do that but when Lurgan entered the league at the beginning of the season was it not their objective to fulfil all fixtures with a view to winning them. With that type of attitude Lurgan could certainly be looking down the barrel of Section 3/4. On reflection Mr Stafford I believe if you were to reflect on your 'column' and own personal postings then it would be quite apparent how negative and bitter those posts were.

We at Armagh for several years travelled away with weakened teams on Sundays very rarely picking up results, luckily we are now able to play a number of Sundays at home after many years of campaigning to play.
I feel when a club registers to play in the Union they should in kind be committing to playing when and where required to complete games. Time to ban the non playing on Sundays regardless of who it will hurt

I think 90% of the clubs have already decided they don't want to play on Fridays. Count the matches and the number of clubs involved in Friday cricket. They are mostly anti Sunday clubs.
Is the tail wagging the dog?
Will the AGM be as lively as this forum on the topic?
It's good to hear the different views.

Didn't North/CSNI fail to put out a 1st XI either last season or the year before?
I seem to remember there were all sorts of dire warnings as to what would happen the 'next' time that happened!
As has been said by others - Friday is Lurgan's day of choice - How have Ballymena managed to get through their programme with a similar stance - maybe someone at Lurgan should ask rather than moaning about the weather.

Just like too inform people Dundrum DID NOT HIDE BEHIND THE RULES ! The team (not me) took the (brave or risky) decision not too give up home advantage ,yes we still hope too play at home next sat (maybe TOP GROUNDSMAN) PHILIP MCCORMICK will do us the same priveledge as lurgan & prepare STORMONT in case we cant???I can assure everyone that Dundrum will try & get the rest off the games played.I personally have sympathy with lurgan trying too get team out on fridays but even paul stafford will surely admit if his beloved lurgan were in with a chance of PROMOTION or RELEGATION they would have got a team & won or lost on the pitch!ps its never over till that fat lady sings & theirs more too life that CRICKET.pps armagh v dundrum off sat.

I suspect Ballymena will be the only team not playing Sunday cricket next year.

As for the North West the rearrangements works by playing a 20 over match irrespective of the weather usually within 8 days. This is possible because the region is so much smaller and most clubs are within a short travelling distance of one another.

Yes James I agree with you, but why should we have to take a day of work to play on a Friday, just because 5% of clubs don't want to play on Sundays, what if clubs decide they don't want to play Friday cricket!! Whats the difference!!

Neal - Acadamy are in a different boat from others in the non-fulfillment of fixtures argument in that they sold their ground for housing, with no plan to re-invest and purchase a new ground. No doubt it would be hard given the land prices about here, but it is, like Lurgan, thier own doing. If they hadnt sold their ground they would have a pitch! They are in the position of being second class citizens at New Forge as it isnt their ground. They will always have to work around the PSNI teams (multi-sport), IFA training / coaching etc.

Stephen, 95% of clubs do play Sunday's and 95% of players can get Friday afternoons off if they really want, and this is key to the argument.
Ok, no replays at junior level
But at Premier league level if players don't want to commit to the odd day off work then they should stop playing!
That is the sort of commitment that is required at the top level, and rightly so...