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How about a sub forum for those without a full name. Then those on the main forum will at least know who we are slagging/being slagged by and can ignore the rest?

Not really sure if this whole internet business is working out the way it was intended to be honest.

James
Well 55 people - be they captains or supporters -watching a cricket match is better than one man and a dog so that's good news! And just like you and me they're entitled to their opinion.
But why restrict your vitriol to just one club when (in your own words) and -based on your own criteria - you could be "making negative comments" about potentially dozens of clubs?
I hope that you don't by the way and that you can find it in you to adopt a more constructive approach.
Best wishes
Nile

Hi Jim from Belfast - please also consider the following -
1. Last time I looked muckamore had brought in at least 4-5 players through their pay to play system. Now I don't know the development pathway of all the players in the NCU Premier League but it seems to me that this compares favourably with their competitor clubs . Some Belfast teams (you're from Antrim Nile?) in recent years have consisted mainly of players recruited from other clubs there must be a different rule if you are from Antrim or do you forget offering money to players in section 1. I don't have any issues with that but your post cannot be considered balanced as you've chosen to overlook that;

2. How on earth can you have 55 ex-captains watching! surely you don't know the meaning of sarcasm. Even if you took the 6 muckamore teams and each captain retired once a year that would take only 10 years!!!!! I think what he is referring to is the muckamore supporters who voice their unequivocal knowledge from the sidelines each game.

3. I have an idea how many coaches are at Muckamore and its only 24 sorry Jim just a slight over-estimate.

Maybe you were being facetious or sarcastic rather than just inaccurate? An anonymous wind-up merchant. If so I don't see how you anyone could take your post as a serious contribution. It would be absurd to ever make any sort of negative comments regarding the 'GREAT MUCKAMORE'

Hi Jim from Belfast - please consider the following:-

1. The last time I looked the Muckamore club fielded at least 7-8 who developed through their youth system. Now I don't know the development pathway of all the players in the NCU Premier League but it seems to me that this compares favourably with their competitor clubs. Some Belfast teams (you're from Belfast Jim?) in recent years have consisted mainly of players recruited from other clubs. I don't have any issues with that but your post cannot be considered balanced as you've chosen to overlook that;

2. And how on earth could you have 55 ex-captains watching from the boundary? Even if you had one new captain every year that would take you to 1962 but with most serving several years then you need to find people from before WWII!;

3. I have no idea how many coaches there are at the Muckamore club but 35 seems may be an over-estimate. It would be great if there were though as we as an NCU community should be trying to develop the next international NCU players after Paul and Gary rather than sniping at each other. Don't you agree Jim?

Maybe you were being facetious or sarcastic rather than just inaccurate? An anonymous wind-up merchant. If so I don't see how you anyone could take your post as a serious contribution.

“Terry in Carnlough” - apologies , I didn’t catch your surname. If I have identified the correct person - I am guessing it wasn’t Millar as your shirt on Sunday seemed to suggest – then whilst I rarely contribute to this forum, there a couple of things in your post that I cannot let go unchallenged. Your unpunctuated, uncapitalised monologue may not be crystal clear, but you appear to be implying that I was undignified and unsporting. I will set out the facts and let readers form their own view.

Fact 1: I did hit the ball in the air as you outlined. It was a poor shot in the context of the game. I didn’t display the shot selection that you are claiming for yourself in your innings. At the time I must say that I opined your innings was remarkable, with a series of undignified swipes across the line, punctuated by top edges for six over the 30m boundary at cow, but on reflection I accept your effort was sublime.

Fact 2: One of your fielders caught the ball. It was a good take to be fair and although I initially wondered about his proximity to the boundary, I was prepared to accept he had caught it fair and square. There were quite a few people much closer than I was who were signalling 6 so I asked him as I walked off whether he was inside the boundary. Again, a fair catch was claimed, and despite the signalling from others, I was prepared again to accept his word.

Fact 3: The boundary at the ground consisted of 80% rope until about 10m away from the fence that protects the road. From there to the fence were about 6 cones. From the corner of the fence, right along the fence, and then after for a while, there was another series of cones placed about a foot to 18inches inside the fence.

So this is the part that left a sour taste in my mouth. When told that the fielder had caught the ball between the cones and the fence, I asked him again and he said he didn’t know where his feet where, but that it didn’t matter as, in his words, “the fence itself is the boundary”. This assertion was then supported by several of his teammates, and the description “local rule” was quoted. By this stage, I had left the field of play so you will know that I could not be recalled, given your intimate knowledge of the laws of cricket displayed so diligently when you were applying Premier League standards to wides in a Junior League 8 match until your captain told you to desist from said practice (you might want to familiarise yourself with NCU ByeLaw “n” before you don the white coat again in a JL8 match).

Flowing from this I have 4 simple questions, perhaps you know the answers
1. If the "local rule" is that the fence forms the boundary, why was there a series of cones placed a foot in front of it along its full length?
2. Why was the “local rule” not explained to our captain at the toss? Instead we were told about it in the 20th over of the second innings upon my dismissal.
3. Why had one of your players in the first innings, when asked by one of our guys fielding at the fence, told him that the boundary was the cones?
4.Why did a Muckamore stalwart, who has played many times on the back pitch, when asked by none other than the NCU CDO about the "rule", indicate that he knew nothing about it?

I have a view as to the answer to all those questions. It is why I felt aggrieved at the end of the game. It didn’t stop me shaking hands with most of your teammates and your captain, although I do not recall you coming anywhere near me to extend this courtesy. Maybe you wanted to be back first to the changing rooms for your self- congratulatory back slapping post game.

So "Terry in Carnlough", I will let readers determine where the bad sportsmanship and lack of dignity was displayed on Sunday. I have played cricket for 30+ years and this was a nadir for me in terms of behaviour and I had to explain to my young teammates who were perplexed with my dismissal that, thankfully, it is a rarity in local cricket and that they shouldn’t witness it in their careers as they move forward.

Finally, I want to apologise to some of the Muckamore guys who were enjoying a relaxing drink on Sunday – I was a bit grumpy with them and wasn’t in the mood for my normal post match pint. Some good guys up there and I’ve a lot of time for the likes of Giller, Andy Clement, big Ivan, Les and, yes, even Keato! Giller displayed some great sportsmanship in a match I umpired in last year when a player took ill, it is just a shame that in my view, it doesn’t appear that his attitude has fully filtered down to every member.

Was interesting to hear a young lad decided to holiday in Donaghcloney this summer, shame he isn't allowed to coach. Hope he gets the weather hes after

Paul Stirling
I'm sure everyone who posted had the opportunity so perhaps we can draw a line now?
Thanks for the lively debate.
Ed

Re. Neil

I can assure you that I'm neither jealous nor do have 'an agenda' with regards to Paul. You'll note in my original post that I commented that if Paul wants to have a mow in Section 1 then good luck to him.

However I am I believe allowed an opinion.

I think it's clear that the NCU guidelines for registration in Section1, in relation to a player's ability need to be revisited. Furthermore I believe that these guidelines pre date the Home Office changes re. Visas. But obviously I stand to be corrected on this.

The 'political gain' comment is just bizarre!

Sincerest apologies Gareth. It appears I don't know my Evans from my Edwards.

Re. Gareth Edwards.

I know this situation has been flogged to death already but today is a fairly significant time for further discussion on it. If indeed you are correct, and I'm not for one second suggesting you are not, of the unions stance on current first class cricketers playing in Section 1. Where will this leave the players currently playing in Section 1 that are members of the Emerging Knights team. If by chance their performances warrant an elevation to the senior Knights squad which as of today are playing first class cricket. Would they also be deemed too good to play in Section 1? Or perhaps as likely if a player who has played in todays game club gets relegated from the PL????

Surely they need to clarify their stance so clubs can put plans in place for these possible scenarios.

With the Paul Striling situation I'm not saying I agree or disagree with it however taking a different twist on it and yes I know Ulster rugby have rules stating contracted players have to play senior rugby but say they didnt, if you're a junior team going to face Bangor and you find out Craig Gilroy is playing for them (his boyhood club) and he score 6 tries and they hammer you would you be honoured to have played against him or a bit aggrieved that it's not at all a level playing field. Maybe that's not entirely comparable but I don't really see a difference. I don't think it's right Armagh didn't shake hands however I do see their point of view not that I completely agree with it.

When ooooh when are the schools going to see that schools cricket on a saturday really has a negative impact on the club game ? And its a pointless, undisciplined joke. Reasons being.......

1. It forces exam age kids 2 choose club or school......and in my experience they choose school to play with their mates. It is a shorter version too, I acknowledge.

2. The standard / attitude of schools cricket is a joke. My comment "play with their mates" says it all...its about laughing at everything for no reason, wearing hoodies that are not white / cream of any description, playing football when their team is batting because none of them know how to do a book, going to subway (10 minutes away) 2 overs before the end of their teams innings (the 1st innings) and leaving their team to field with 7 until they get back.

Get rid of saturday schools cricket and make it easier for kids to play club cricket on a saturday, maybe fewer WALKOVERs then !!!!

And EARLIER starts and finishes for all !!!!

why not set an example mr foster and lose the match with dignity intact everyone bar none waiting for you to come on to the forum and moan if you kept the ball on the ground like me you couldnt be out it may only be junior 8 but there are still standards to be kept and bad sportsmanship is not one of them

As you say Michael, there were no adverse comments from the Bangor players on that day - and both teams and umpires enjoyed a convivial hour with him in the clubhouse afterwards. I have to say that I find the comments emanating from County Armagh somewhat incongruous especially as historically, their 'starrings' would have defied Hans Christian Andersen.
And perhaps Jim should look at the number of our local young players in the present 1st XI before commenting.

Firstly, I couldn't agree more with Ricky's comments. The uproar that has been caused over this is disappointing as ultimately this was a local guy wanting to play cricket with his mates. This should be sport in its purest form and should not hijacked by those who are either jealous or have their own agendas. Despite a lot of negativity around in some corners I am actually heartened by the ground swell of support there is that Paul played. I hope that Paul sees that as I'm sure knowing him he was not seeking any of the attention this has drawn. Through various social media forums, be it comments or even twitter polls, its obvious that most see him playing as a positive thing for the local game. This should not be surprising given the motion was heavily defeated at the NCU AGM last year.
I can't understand why people wouldn't embrace the challenge of playing against the best when it arises. I know we looked forward to playing against Mark Adair first match of the season and it was great to see someone giving his all for his boyhood club.
The issue seems to have been blurred with the overseas player and SVV issue. They are not comparable but some people are trying to make political capital out of it. The overseas players issue arose due to the Home Office and the criteria for a valid SVV. They were set by the Home Office and not the NCU.
At a time when cricket is struggling generally for numbers and small clubs are feeling the pinch can we not shoot ourselves in the foot by turning a good news story of someone with no airs and graces wanting to turn out and play for his local side at a council playing field three weeks after playing for his country at Lords to a back biting story of jealousy. I'm sure if I'm reading all the social media etc. it won't as it seems that the large majority think it was great to see. I don't know if Paul will be available again this season for us but if he is he will be welcomed back not because he is an Ireland International but because he's a a member of our club, friends with the players and always part of the team whether playing or not.