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Further to my comment in regards to the merger of donocloney and millpark it seems that the new club seem to think that the NCU will automatically place them back into section 1....this I believe will not be the case even tho they have players who are too good for section 3 as they are a new club surely they have to start in the bottom league and work themselves up ...Monaghan for example were a new club in the last few years and yes they may be section 3 standard currently but as they were a new club to the NCU they have started at the bottom and can work themselves up....what was going to happen if the other merger took place between section 1 and 3 teams...just let them carry on in section 1!!....if this is the case I would suggest all section 3 clubs jump on the bandwagon and merge with a section 1 club or even better what about a Premier league club!!

This will be completely unfair to all remaining teams in section 3 and to those in section 2

re donacloney mill
it will mean that junior teams will benefit from excellent playing facilities at either donalconey or millpark. rather some of the abismal second grounds that are used.
surprised that lurgan and Victoria merger didn't go through. That's one that both clubs may regret missing that opportunity in years to come. especially a waringstown will no doubt continue their local domination at all levels.

I can see the thinking behind amalgamations and I welcome the Donacloney-Millpark merger. However I must disagree with the 'players projections'. I recall the when Cooke & Collegians merged some years ago and Cooke/Collegians were able to field, at that time, 4 or 5 sides (memory not so good!). My point is that if organisations are not addressing the underlying recruitment problems - and I've seen it outside cricket as well - then amalgamation is only a short term answer to the problem.

So it seems one of the mergers is going to go ahead...will produce a strong club but as a new club i am assuming they will have to start off in Section 3...so we will have a team that finished mid table in Section 1 playing in section 3

Ivan.
"A club with 30 players = 2 teams,
two clubs combining gives 60 players = 5 teams".
Is this some sort of mathemagical calculation ?

Donacloney CC and Millpark CC have both had EGMs and have both agreed to proceed with a merger .
Donacloney have had a successful youth structure these last few years and now with this merger Donacloney Mill will be putting out 4 Saturday teams playing on 2 good grass wicket pitches .
We believe that we need to get young cricketers into the habit of playing Saturday cricket at all early age and now opportunities will exist for all our kids
We already go into 3 Banbridge primary schools as well as Banbridge Academy and hope that this merger will keep cricket strong in the Banbridge /Gilford area .
Keith Ogle
Donacloney CC Chairman

Would like to know teams prepration for next summer.any clubs doing any improvement on there grounds or just only have money for pros!

Ref Mark. I think the NCU facilitate social cricket very well with the Midweek League. I know at Muckamore where we have two midweek teams we have players who only play Midweek.
But even social cricketers want to win. Any other way it's just another "net".
I know that Portadown , Monaghan and others also play a midweek competition and while it is socialable it has winners at the end.
I don't think clubs like Larne , Donaghadee . Ards etc want to be seen as "social cricket clubs".
The current structure allows clubs to find their own level and in a free world allows people to invest to improve their club as they see fit.
With 130 teams , a growing youth league structure , ladies cricket thriving , more and more coaches coming through I really struggle to see any reason to worry about the game.
While I can't comment with any authority on the proposed mergers I think the nett result of successful mergers could have been more people playing on a Saturday . A club with 30 players = 2 teams, two clubs combining gives 60 players = 5 teams.

Plenty of talk about first class cricket etc at the moment but what about grass roots cricket...I say this as we are supposed to believe that cricket is booming here in NI but I have just noticed that 4 clubs are / were in talks over mergers ( Victoria / Lurgan and Millpark / donacloghney)....this would have created some cracking teams / clubs if they do go ahead

I do believe that this is possibly the way forward but it goes to show that cricket is shrinking in players / financial / facilities in certain parts.

I do believe in the near future that there will be a break away league for those clubs who are interested in the social cricket side....and it will not be via the NCU but a completely new union / organisation.

Thanks Andy, duly noted!

I offer my congratulations to all who have been involved in the work at Woodvale that has been suitably rewarded with a 1 grading. The benches have been the icing on the cake and the grading is richly deserved. Next on the list? - the umpires' room! But then again, that applies to most of the grounds!

Jeff, a years ago mini rugby was just cheap baby sitting, but these days the Parents, at least at Portadown rfc are an important part of the setup, and they really do get involved.
I remember early 70s, I would get dropped off at rugby and my Sister would be dropped off at dancing class, our parents would go shopping.
If you done that these days around here you would be the talk of the town, the golf club, bridge club, hockey club, Darby n Joan, nifty 50s and every one else's Granny ;)

overseas pros are tools to avoid relegation pure and simple...5k for a tool or 3k to send teenagers on ncu coaching courses and pay them...they cant get jobs so pay them on their summer hols and save yurself thousands for yur ground or youth setup...
anyone who says pros are there to coach can surely see the benefit of saving yur club thousands or is it the fear of relegation ??

Alan re sat morn coaching is cheap BABY SITTING(according to my friend who has 140 at his). MARK the thing is he only has to work loads of hours when school program is on for 8 weeks (i pray its only 4 weeks this year as even I was feeling like kunta kinta ) that he has help but facts are that 95% time the coach is there as he likes it gets exeriance and improves his CV. .Add in free food and drink and benefits and Dundrum and Newcastle is great spot for four months he never touches his slave £ taking home 100% is reason he does everything that is asked and swear he voluteered for extra dates at schools and free 121 sessions so Dundrum formula is working as i have plenty (8)looking the tortourus task .BRUCE i have no issue if they not allowed to play and only coach but thats unfair in other sections can as the big clubs will have unfair advantage , I also know if they are banned we will STILL bring a coach over to run the 12 school program we are taking on not sure other clubs small or big would . The NCU have definitley improved in helping junior clubs and Andy Clement deserves praise for that among loads other things and getting Callum Atkinson helping as he is superb coach and is great help in everything he does . But anyway off to prepare speech for awards night as stepping down from u15 coach as 8 years is long enough and pray they dont get my bad technique altho see ball hit ball and try hit the stumps always remember it being simple game but now its ramp /scoops/reverse sweeps and that many variations on bowling slow balls they need NEW COACHING MANUEL.. PS CHARLIE MON 445 ffos las can win if they let HANDBRAKE OFF . ASCOT eways simple verse /shalaa/journey/galileo gold . and seamie hefferman three cracking oursiders pretty perfect /hit it a bomb/us army ranger be shocked id they not go close .

The good vibes for cricket in NCU just get better and better with the announcement of fist class status for the Inter Pro games, the announcemt of Ireland and NCU under age squads for winter training camps , the development of the Andrew White Academy .
I have never known so much positivity at this time in the winter break. Clubs can plan ahead with confidence and know that if they unearth a talented player there is now a development plan to take these guys to become first class cricketers and hopefully Test players .
Imagine the buzz our volunteer coaches will get if they see a young player they have worked with at 6 and 7 years old stepping out at Lord's in a Test match .
The hard work being put into the "top of our game " can only drag up the standard the whole way down the pyramid."
When you cross the white line on a Saturday be it the Premier League or Junior League 9 your only thought should be " I'm going to do what ever I can to help us win today ".
Those that don't think like that are also catered for - it's called golf.
So let's look to improving facilities and playing abilities no matter where teams are in the league pyramid .

Roll on 2017