Forum

as Lee says - investment on the infrastructure of some grounds in the Premier League!! I have always believed that there must be some level of ground criteria for "up the leagues" never mind basic "facilities". I know, I know Mr. Ed. - I won't mention a certain scoreboard or the luxurious changing rooms in South Belfast!! I really can't see the business case for such spending - unless you qualify for Europe!! As I said before, and there have been so many examples over the years, when the cash cow dies we'll see what happens.

So CIYMS have got the cheque book out for what must be one of their better signings of Nigel Jones. At first when I read the News Letter article on the signing I thought to myself here we go again at CI, but surely they should receive some praise for their investment in sight screens, covers and nets?

If only more clubs followed suit and spent more money on facilities instead of on players. Should the NCU not set minimum level of ground equipment and facilities if a club wants to be in the Premier League?

Hi all.
Anyone know when the cup draws will be made for the NCU Senior Cup and Irish Cup?

I heard a nasty rumour yesterday while attending our home game yesterday (Glenavon FC) with many of my Victoria colleagues. I was approached and told there where accusations being made on social media regarding our wee club 'paying' players last season. Personally and after reading a few of the comments on this forum it smells and sounds like a case of sour grapes. We have continuously strived to survive and improve our wee club using extremely limited resources. Do we own our own ground, NO, do we have a nice cosy bar bringing in X amount of £s, NO, do we have have a few 'sugar daddies' drip feeding our bank balance, again NO!!! We have managed year in year out to survive on basically our club sponsor (Maloneys Diner), a Christmas draw and our players dues. We are proud of what we have achieved and are proud of our town and people. Our treasurer has worked tirelessly to keep us afloat against stiff opposition, bigger clubs like Lurgan, Waringstown and Donacloney. It always seems that once we seem to be getting anywhere the snipers take up position! If all these other 'snipers' are at a club who are in a position to pay players, good for them, your prerogative. We are glad to have anyone who is willing to play for Victoria C.C., we are glad to stay afloat, we are glad to just be able to play cricket!! Please show a bit of respect, we have enjoyed our wee bit of recent success, maybe some of you can at least acknowledge our hard work and commitment to Victoria C.C. and not constantly taking cheap shots because your own season didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. We may not be the 'trendiest' club in the land but maybe one of the hardest working!!! Victoria C.C. and proud of it!!!!

There are a few of the Div 2 and 3 teams that pay players (not a weekly wage but more of a incentive / expense payment )...if your club can afford it no harm...this seems the modern way.

William & Billy,

If I were to start a scurrilous rumour that I was getting paid to write poems about cricket and such like, do you think Victoria C.C. and the wider world at large might actually believe it and start paying me?

I think you're both onto something here, you'll each receive .005% royalties subject to contract and red tape negotiations......

And that's my final offer !

It says a lot about the state of our cricket when the attitude is that if you're a handy player you have to be financially rewarded...

Congratulations Nick Larkin and best wishes from everyone at the Ulster Cricketer. Good enough for New South Wales but not a depleted and badly hammered Ireland squad Down Under highlights the vast range of opinion in the minds of selectors.
Good luck Nick let your bat do the talking.

Re M. Parks - in view of the largesse that is being layered around the Premier League I don't think that you need to come on the forum to explain your position to anyone. The "status quo" of the cabal of the top section is reinforced by the restriction on pros down the Division. If my Euromillions numbers come up just wait to see who turns out for Muckamore next season. At least that would be a better use of the money than that woman in the NW has done to Sion Mills!!

Heartwarming stuff there from the Victoria C.C representatives.

When your 2 Indian players are openly telling opposition players they are getting paid what do you expect people to think? Both very handy players who would be hard to keep a hold of without financial reward...

Thanks for clearing that up gents.

You should probably ask a couple of players in your first eleven to stop telling visiting support that they get paid. Might put an end to these nasty rumours...

(Based on an actual character from my long & distant past )

Cherished dearly are the memories grand
of all the animals I've reared by hand,
there's been many pets down through the years
over those now gone, I have shed tears!

Cats, dogs, hamsters, fish within a pond,
newts and tadpoles that there spawned,
with rabbits I’m also equally smitten,
did you know an infant bunny, is known as a kitten?

But there was one magnificent creature,
a gift I received from my science teacher
that stood out tall and proud above the rest,
as of his kind, he was simply the best!

He started life as a tiny yellow chick,
but I fed him well and he grew up quick,
in adulthood, an impressive, imposing sight,
with my big Sussex rooster, no one picked a fight!

For compan I bought him six laying hens
he needed no encouragement to make friends,
he soon built a reputation for being bold and game,
so I called him 'Cogburn', after John Wayne!

One night a fox stopped by his chicken coop,
its clear intent to murder this sleeping troupe
but not a feather was harmed on any bird's head,
as next morning I found that reynard, bloody and dead!

One fine sunny day, he followed me all the way
to the cricket club, whereupon he interrupted play
he strode out to middle and boldly began to scratch,
frightening the players, so the umpires barred us both from the match

He once had trouble with a couple of rival foes who charmed his lady hens with amorous crows but old Cogburn by nature, a jealous bird,
when he got wind of this, his wrath was incurred!

He approached those impostors with a dropped wing, his unique war dance, a cockerel thing,
it ended quickly without a fuss or pain
and a couple of would be suitors, ne'er crowed again!

I once entered him into an old country game fair,
he won first prize, the finest fowl on view there
but I could not stay long to celebrate,
as old Cogburn grew frisky and fancied a date!

He broke out of his cage feeling perky,
and unceremoniously mounted a terrified turkey, so I rushed him back home, angry and moody, whereupon he took out his frustrations, on six hens lewdly!

Now old Cogburn has long since passed on
to a heavenly harem of hens, for cockrels with brawn,
but I’ll never forget him til the day that I die,
for he put the gravel in my gut and the spit in my eye!

So protect the honour of your wedded woman
never let her to be charmed by an unscrupulous villain,
fight like a man and she will always remain true
look your foe in the eye and just before battle;
cry out loud; ....."Cock-a-doodle-dooooooooooo”

William, I would like to know where the assumption that Victoria are paying multiple players comes from? In fact, we pay nobody, and haven't done so at my time at the club. The last six of which I have served as treasurer.

While pros have their benefits, and may be a necessity in order to compete in Section 1 and the PL, I'm unsure that I see the on field benefits of a professional to a Section 2 or 3 club.

Clubs such as Donaghcloney have a thriving youth section. The presence of a professional assists them to run an effective youth section, exposing them to good quality coaching, and helps them to develop players for the future. It can also make good financial sense, as more youth team members equates to more income.

However, spending money in order to climb few places up the league, could be seen as both short sighted and wasteful. Victoria have made great strides in the last number of years, and the progress the 1st XI have made on the pitch can be attributed to being able to attract new, and keep new and existing, players thanks to a wonderful sense of togetherness at the club, both on and off the pitch. The fact that it is assumed that our improvement can be attributed to an injection of cash is wrong. It also probably says a lot about our local game, that the only viable way that people can legislate for a team's improvement is that they must be paying someone.

Fortunately though, it is possible to improve without buying it. Personally, I will enjoy whatever success we enjoy, no matter how limited, knowing that it has been achieved with 11 men, as well as numerous players waiting in the wings, who want to play for Victoria, Any time I go out on the field, I have 10 teammates, who want to win a game of cricket for each other, not for a few notes in their pocket that evening.

Just want to add my condolences to the McCormick family upon the death of Ernie. Fond memories of an umpire who began to get restless at 6.30pm and you did not know what was to happen next. Joking aside it is hard when you lose characters who have contributed much to local game and who had a great sense of humour.