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Re the postings from Staffy and Ivan (both of whom are experienced enough to voice a considered opinion) and Michael Patterson (I've been around a wee bit longer than 35 years and I don't know him either but there you go). The standards of NCU cricket are not improving and that is despite the amount of money that has been paid to the so-called "professional coaches" that have been around in the past 25-30 years. I can count on one hand the number of such guys who made an impact on the development of young players in clubs. Has anyone ever totted up how much money has gone out of the country over those years - must be well over £2 million.
And Ivan is right - 100 kids "running around" isn't development - its "baby sitting".
I have had the opportunity over the past season and a half to see Div 1 Sections 2,3 and 4 at close quarters and there is definitely "room for improvement" - I put it no further.
As I have posted previously on another forum 30 -35 years ago alomost every senior club at the time fielded 4 teams - not now - and yet we sat at NCU AGMS and listened to the "pro" debate and the main reaon for their retention was "the great job that they're doing with the young boys!"!! The facts speak for themselves. Or maybe I'm just becoming a grumpy old man - sorry - I can hear the comments already - you always were grumpy Kennedy!!

No jibes at all Ivan, just comments in reaction to both yours and Staffy. I disagree with them and quite frankly I'm getting tired of the anti-NCU ravings and pro North West stuff when behind the pros there's very little to commend. No mention of the lack of player discipline, insults and threats, increase in suspensions, dissent etc that appears to be happening more often in NW cricket. The NCU is not perfect but it's not the mess some of you guys portray.

Cricket in the NCU region is all about developing youth to feed the senior club structure. A very few senior players "appear to join" clubs senior ranks. Were the senior players next year and the following years come from? Without the youth teams most clubs will surely die over the next number of years. Yes the standard is getting poorer at senior level. But with proper youth development in each, and I mean each club, the future does not look very good for cricket in the NCU region.
PS Why do we not have a regional development officer for say every 3 or 4 clubs working in the schools 52 weeks a year and not just the summer time? Our current overseas player must, and I mean must, be good coaches and made to contribute their time to coaching.
PPSS Scored a game tonight that would fill you proud to be associated with youth cricket. U13 quarter final at Lisburn v Saintfield. Lisburn 79 versus Saintfield 77 in reply. Genuine club youth showing real enthusiasm for the game and proud to represent their clubs.

Why does it have to always get personal on here?. I thought most contributors were first and foremost cricket lovers.Knocking Staffy for the sake of knocking Staffy isn't going to develop cricket either end of the Glenshane ( and I think we have both been guilty of trying to score points of each other in the past ). But he's as well placed as anyone to judge the standards having played in the NCU senior one for a long lomg time and now playing in the NWCU and being kept out of the Birgade team with that bowling attack isn't any disgrace. As for Michael Patterson's jibes ( and being around the NCU for 35 years I've never come in contact with him but I think he is a Lisburn follower ) I think my remark was justified. For all the numbers at clubs until we get some coaching structures in place I don't ( and haven't ) see the standards improving.
Over the past ten years the Ireland set up with Hendrick, Birrel, Walsh, O'Rourke etc have done a great job in developing young talent highlighted by the success at under age level and the guys playing County cricket.
Surely this blueprint needs repeated at club level. With qualified coaches at each age level,club academies,winter nets,mini tours,schools programmes,mentors for youngsters in senior teams,mentoring,even a tie up with a county etc.Lets stop knocking those with the interest of the game at heart and put those energies into improving the game at club level and this will raise the standards at international level.

danny . you shouldnt done that bad nap won backed from 6/4 til 1/2. next best won 8/1 then 4 eways all placed 2 beat in photos at 12/1 2 didnt run but anyway we try get a few for weekend as im off too chester. COLLECTION will win the john smiths magnet cup at york(if gets to run) fancy SPEED SONG chester fri night if runs and think infallible win tomorrow.ps have too say be nice too see the UNDERDOGS CSNI win THE SEMI FINAL but VANBURN mighten want us BETTING on it. monday 14 july DUNDRUM V SAINTFIELD START 1PM

Some people say it should have been a longer ban. What about Johnny giving us his version of events?

Just read Staffy's email and have to say it's OTT on the state of cricket in the NCU. Are you really that bitter about your NCU committee experience? As for bringing up Ivan's silly comment on 100 kids running around a field not being development I'm sure any club in Ireland would love to start with that base. You can develop two ways; either bring the young players through the ranks or buy hired guns. Who does what is up to any individual club to decide but don't tell us North West cricket is stronger than NCU cricket because that argument doesn't stand up. The only person in denial is yourself!

Vanburn

Any odds on CSNI beating North Down in the semi final of the challenge cup? Its not like you to not have an opinion on something.

Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on the fairly hefty suspension handed out by the NWCU to Johnny Thompson? Must have been a pretty serious offence if a 6 match was dished out!

James, don't get carried away with a few wins this year as nobody is fooling anyone in the NW versus NCU stakes. Pros dominate NW cricket and paying players is their current culture. And guess what it works. If NCU clubs want to have the best teams they will have to buy them like North County,Brigade,Strabane, Limavady etc.
Yes they have pros but buying success is not really their culture. But that may change if a rich sponsor walks through the door! Getting beaten by hired guns is hardly an indication of a better standard or a better union. It reflects buying power. Ask Russell and Dalzell if they play in a better team right now than the one they left.

Stu Daultrey appears to be anti NCU and particularly North Down where there is obviously some baggage from the past. Staffy has a love-hate relationship with the NCU but has some good ideas mixed in with a few grudges. Both are entitled to their opinions but there's a lot more good things happening within the NCU than bad and plenty of hard-working people trying to promote cricket. They're not perfect but I think we should get off their backs and support them.

I think the NCU should immediately employ a well qualified person to put in place a developement plan for the future of the union, I hear Brigade 2ND XI may have a suitable candidate?

Seriously though, everyone seems to think we have our heads buried in the sand, is that right?

I know we have a number of areas in need of improvement but I'm not sure where Daultry/Stafford get the idea that the North West are any further down the road...

taito , no problem but think yous wheir short &return be harder but still think i might just sneak another winning bet . just called in for 2 beers & my haggas source says back MANDILIEU won 4 1. happy days.well dun to yous winning yesterday.

sorry jeff, i have been busy , i will pay you in drink sure ha. Na im sure i will run in to you sometime soon and we can sort it out

has anyone seen or heard from tayto as he wasnt shy about taking mu bet over who win(although might been better if he had played)i will always take a CHEQUE if you dont like handing over CASH.LOL