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That's encouraging to know Ivan, I'd be the first to admit that occasionally my exuberance and over active imagination can lead me into uncharted waters but you have assuaged my concerns.

On a more serious note, I too would like to pass on my condolences and sympathies to the late Alan Johnston's family & all up at Pollock Pk.

Although I did not know him personally, I remember only as recently as last season, I had the privilege of chatting to him as he took a stroll around Lurgan Park, we were playing at the time and whilst I was waiting to 'go in' he stopped to ask me how we were doing and we had an interesting but all to brief conversation about local cricket in general, he indeed seemed a very courteous and affable gentleman. Would loved to have seen him play in his prime!

Gone for now but his legacy will last forever, RIP Alan.

Well Said Ivan.

I read of the passing of Alan Johnston with great sadness.

In an age where mediocrity has gained so much credence he would have been a giant. Alan could make the ball 'talk' like few others and his paucity of Ireland caps says more about the selectors/system than him.

On behalf of Woodvale C.C. I'd like to pass on my condolences to Alan's family and to Lurgan C.C.

A true gent!

Gareth Evans
Woodvale C.C.

Calub
Since John Solanky arrived as a pro at Lisburn over 40 years ago or since Michael Reith became the first "local" pro when he joined North Down from Waringstown a few years later I can not think of a single quality player held back by the introduction of a paid player .
Not one - at any club in over 40 years.
If a player is good enough he will force his way in to the team
.
North Down had there fair share of "outsiders" but it didn't stop Peter Shields , Marty Moreland , Andrew White , Ryan Haire breaking through or in later years Alister Shields or Peter Eakin

On the other hand I have watched probably the best three players Muckamore have produced in the last 40 years all leave the club for a period to pursue the Premier League cricket we weren't able to offer them - namely Andy Clement , Neil Gill and Jason Vde Merve
I dont think anyone at the club felt any resentment towards the guys wanting to play at the highest level. I did it myself twice and I can see more and more players making that move.

When I look back over those years two "junior clubs" in the early 80's who went on to invest in players are now two of our leading senior clubs with MORE teams and better facilities.
The fact both Carrick and CIYMS have increased numbers playing the game kills the myth that player movement "kills" clubs and people losing interest.

Player discipline.
I asked an guy why he quit umpiring and i didn't expect to hear the story he told, but I can understand now why he quit.
When a player is 'out of order' the umpires inform the player and his captain and the opposition that they intend to report the player. This open, upfront and honest, exactly he way that trust and respect is developed between officials and players. I think this is fair.
What if a player/captain wishes to report an umpire for an error that he or his colleague may have made? It should be included in the captains report of course, but if a 'complaint' is to be made, surely the umpire should be informed at the time as is the procedure with players?
Now a question.
Do you think it would be fair, honest and up-front if an umpire returned home after a match and found a message from a colleague to say that complaints that had been made against him during or shortly after the match? No committee meeting, no hearing, no chance to offer an explanation just a light scolding based on one side of a very tall tale made covertly ?
Is that fair? I don't think it is, but I'm not an umpire so I don't know if this happens regularly. Seems to me to be an excellent way to destroy player/umpire trust.
Perhaps some of the umpires on this forum would care to offer an opinion on how they would feel.

Ivan

I take my hat off to Muckamore's incredible numbers, no doubt they fly in the face of many many other clubs.

But please and no offence, can we please not have another season of you eulogising about Muckamore's incredible everything.

Brilliant and delighted that all's well at Moylena, but drop below premium league and the top half of senior one and you'll see complete disaray and exasperation.

Btw, anything the NCU's development team are doing should be applauded.

No one will every have an issue with the development of our kids or clubs.

Would also love a wee look through those rose tinted glasses :)

Well Ivan, perhaps I veered of track a little in response to your original post but I hope you did not miss my point?

I fully support and commend the fine work of the union, clubs and coaches etc. in their dedication and commitment to enhancing and improving our fine game but please...Not at the expense of Peter, Paul or Mary!

Let's say for talks sake, three fictitious youngsters who have received all the bonifde and excellent instruction, tutelage and learning their club and union can offer!

And as they mature and improve with the passing of time, they naturally form bonds and ties with fellow club members, junior and senior, staff and spectators alike, then what happens next ?

Just when they believe they'll get their chance, that once dreamed of opportunity to step into the first eleven and that could be any level, (even an Interprovincial game), along comes ' you know who' from out of the blue and ousts them from the limelight, shatters their once golden dreams and knocks their confidence for the proverbial 'six' and in doing so, severely dilutes that once burning passion for not just the game itself, but the very integrity of human nature!

So please, to all those in the seat of power and authority at whatever level, remember this if nothing else...

' discretion is the better part of valour '

Ivan,
I also watched the NZ v SA match at Hamilton and thought it was a bore. The NZ people made a choice to stay home as it offered no entertainment, irrespective of scoring pedestrian runs. Oh for McCollum, Fleming, Hadlee, Vettori et al. Surely test cricket needs to provide entertainment to survive?
Local cricket also needs entertainment. Generally speaking, the best players on the best pitches will provide it.

Interesting reading the back to back contrasting posts of Michael from "the good old days" and Ryan Haire.

I just think Ryan might be more in tune what's really happening at club level and at youth level.

At Muckamore tonight we had 24 players at the first outdoor practice and it's still only March.

Also to see 50 odd people at the excellent NCU "state of the nation " event last week would indicate that at all clubs except Michael's cricket is alive and thriving .

Calum I think you missed my point . It doesn't matter who plays and cricket should not be judged by the numbers watching .

As an individual I thoroughly enjoyed watching IP cricket last summer at Bready, Malahide, Clontarf and Stormont . I didn't go for the "atmosphere" but to sit and watch the contest between bat and ball.

Watching the Lightning v the Warriors at Malahide and seeing George Dockrell get a fine hundred and Eddie Richardson take on Craig Young was entertaining - and for most of that afternoon I was the only person watching not there in an official capacity .

Also seeing Jacob Mulder bowling almost 30 overs of leg spin at Clontarf with maybe only a couple of long hops in his whole spell was fantastic.

I just see the standards rising and rising and I know as a club we were very pleased to see Jamie Magowan get a chance last season and I hope that's what young Muckamore players see as the first step to a career in cricket .

As a lifelong Player and Clubman, local cricket is and has been dead in my eyes for years now.

Who on earth wants to watch really average paid Eejits playing for their or anyone else's club

What have we done.

Ivan ....
Couldn't agree more re getting behind the Knights and indeed the wider developments in Youth Cricket across the NCU. Just back to office after a Cricket Factory hosted by Callum and Jonty which was superb at Avoniel LC funded by BCC. Can attest to the work the coaches from clubs (CSNI / Cregagh / CIYMS at the event) and CDOs are putting in to increase the base ..........superb

The Emperor's New Clothes" ...is a short story about two weavers who promise an emperor a new suit of clothes that they say is invisible to those who are unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, no one dares to say that they don't see any suit of clothes on him for fear that they will be seen as "unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent". Finally, a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!"

Ivan,

Second class, first class or even recorded delivery, no matter what way it's pretty packaged or parcelled up, Interprovincial cricket won't bring out the crowds until all the 'johnny foreigners ' are excluded from the tournament and the three unions compete against each other on a level playing field.

Folk here are traditionalists and like to see 'their own' playing and performing well against equally likeminded opposition, glancing at the archives I see Leinster Lightnings have perennially won the competition for the last four or five years in a row!

Something to do with those 'Johnny Foreigners' again me thinks ?

Just thinking while I'm watching NZ v SA that crowds play no part in the validity of the standard of cricket .
This game is featuring at least two world class players in Williamson and Amla and a lot of very good players yet I think I've seen bigger crowds at Moylena.
So let's get behind the Knights as they move to first class status, They pre season training has obviously moved up a gear and with more games than ever it's a great shop window for those wanting to make a career from
cricket.
I saw quite a few days IP cricket last season and it was a good watch and I expect it's only going to get better .
So don't judge it on the "one man and a dog" crowd descriptions because as this NZ v SA game proves it's not an IP dilemma .
As clubs we should be working hard at coaching to get players into either the under age teams or the "emerging " teams and embracing the Knights as our " second club".

A poor turnout at the Umpiring Roadshow at Laurelvale last night. Senior players however will be questioning Umpires' decisions and making spurious appeals throughout the coming season whilst players umpiring in junior games will be officiating without even a basic understanding of the laws of cricket. Is there another game where the players are so ignorant of the rules? Many thanks to Keith Smith and Alan Neil for a very enjoyable and informative evening. Can I suggest that before you question any Umpire's decision this season, either on the pitch or in the bar afterwards, you ask yourself 'Have I ever made an attempt to understand all the laws of the game?'. If the honest answer is no then say nothing.