Features

I have always enjoyed the company of umpires.

Hats off to Cricket Ireland for coming up with the new National Cup and keeping it outside the flagship Irish Senior Cup competition and the 2nd elevens of the top clubs.

Calling all cricketers-this may be your last chance to own a piece of history as sales of “The History of the NCU Challenge Cup 1887-2011” have been brisk and as this is a limited issue, once they go that’s it!

Howard Burns was a popular NCU umpire in the early Fifties and stood every Saturday at senior games all over Belfast and as far afield as Downpatrick and Muckamore.

Local cricket historian Clarence Hiles launched his second cricket book this morning at a Book Launch in Belfast.