Forum

Thanks to those adding their name to the list as we speak!

We only need another 123 to reach 1,000 signatures!!

Your support is appreciated!

Our petition will be presented to the council this evening. If you haven't already signed up to this petition, I would urge to to take a look.

PLEASE sign it and support us in our opposition to the proposed hige price increase!

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/victoriacc

I have deliberately avoided this forum for some time as many of the ill informed comments make me cringe. As President of CIYMS CC for a second year I am very proud of our club's ambition. What you do not see is an excellent committee working hard to find sponsors, organise fund raising events, source coaches and players suited to our plans and, above all, meet the demands of our members. We are a club thriving with an abundance of young players to provide us with a future at all levels within the club; and yes, with every opportunity being made for the talented players to improve their game and give them the ambition to play at the highest level they can. It's not many years ago we had no youth section, nets were the same old faces doing the basic routine. Now we are full to bursting and the players at all levels are learning the good habits for match preparation; proper training from talented coaches such as Hinky, Smudge, Mackers, Sleithy in addition to those the club has had the good fortune to have in our ranks the last few seasons and especially now with the first class team of players, coaches and management to support our club. Yes it will be in the years to come when we all may know just how successful this investment has been. But be aware, it's a long-term plan and the committee recognises we have still much to achieve. So, for the CI bashers I would never expect you to understand or accept CIYMS as a right thinking club doing all we can to move forward. For the rest of us, I can honestly say we are loving our time in the top leagues - 1sts, 2nds, 3rds & 4ths all playing against better oppositions and enjoying their sport. The friendships and rivals will remain and are a part of the game we all love. So I look forward to seeing you all this season.

ROY . re Micheal Hingston will be at CI for very long time ive seen first hand @Shankill leisure centre the excellent job he does with NCU under 15/13 AND AT BELMONT and wish he was @ Dundrum as i can assure he will be STALWART for both CI and the NCU if he is not already .re micheal i didnt mention FIRSTS as CI are a CLUB made up of many stalwarts like the already mention and loads more like Alan Mcilwaine /Stuarty Malcom /Alan Sleith and loads more but the point is missing everyone their is lots premier clubs paying far more than a professional and they never get even one post on here . CISN in my opinion done a fantastic job in getting Irelands Gary Wilson over for games along with Nigel Jones and Mark Ellison showed how good pro he is after moving up a section and that can only improve their club also it just seems that its only CI that get unjustified comments on their club and as i said before opinions are like ar$eholes everyone has to have one .PS Russeler i dont think CIYMS have failed its not about just winning trophies and time will tell which opinion is right

Re Bod and Hingston

As one of the two CI "stalwarts" (pesonally I've never heard of a stalwart in his 20's but there you go !)did they toss a coin to see who would be skipper ???

Is that playing or non-playing captain ?????

Re Michael Johnson

I dont think Jeff's praise of CIYMS CC was limited to the stalwarts on the 1st XI. Perhaps if you came to see the club in the summer, you would see a vibrant, friendly, professionally run club on the up with a blossoming youth section and a wide selection of club stalwarts throughout the club.

Bod

PS Michael Hingston's role in the 1st XI this year? Captain

Jeff Maguire

You mention that CIYMS have "loads of club stalwarts" still involved in their firsts?? Really? I think you'll find that Hughes and Hinkston are the only 2 still involved, or likely to be involved. And at what level will their involvement be? 6th or 7th bowler? 9 or 10 batsman? Jeez, i'd rather go shopping with the wife on a saturday than do that.

Re Andy Owen:(Who are ya, Who are ya!?!?)

My one season in the NW (2008) was something i had always said i would do before i stopped playing Premier League cricket. I love the NW passion for the game. I'll always be thankful i did it, as it was a unique experience and a season in which i made some lifelong friends. Money had very little to do with it, if i'm being perfectly honest, but all that aside, i can accept the "perception" arguement that you mention. ND is where i grew up learning and playing the game from 10 years of age, personally, i'd never dream of taking a penny out of my clubs "system", so to speak, not that i would be offered it anyway!!!

I agree also that what CI or any club do with their finances is up to them. Personally, i dont agree with it, it has shown nothing more than abject failure the past few years, but i'm very much an each to their own type person. Ambition and will to be the best is only a good thing and there are some genuinely good people over at Belmont.

Russeller

p.s You are quite correct re an Interest Free loan, BUT, other significant sponsorships have been attained during the off season which have allowed the club to re-invest in facilities and upgrades.

Lads jeez what is wrong Ciyms is a fine club with loads of stalwarts from even in my time when they were section 3 club Luco/Hughsey/Hinky, Tony etc and all are still playing and thriving as they push their club to the highest level in the premier with the so called big clubs with a very good junior set up .What no one can answer is their is pathetic jealousy over a club that has raised all their money threw excellent sponserhip and also support good charities ( maybe the sponsors should just waste the £ and give it to the tax man ) and fact is every club would like to have their budget and surely every premier club is paying either pros or coaches etc .No doubt North Down have fantastic set up and fair play to all involved but couple years back it was Derriaghy that got lots unjustified stick but surely every club had the right to run there club whatever way they choose and ive no doubt that Ciyms will be in premier for good few years and good luck them . PS if any other club had got Craig Mcmillan too play for them they would got credit not stick .

If people are getting paid and everything is within the rules then what exactly are the problems people have with that? At the end of the day Clubs only have to justify their actions to their members.

I also have read many posts on here saying basically if you haven't played at the top level then your opinion isn't valid. What utter nonsense. I am 19 play 3rd and 4th team cricket and enjoy doing so. Why should my opinion be worth any more or any less than everyone else?

Yes I respect those with experience and always listen to their views. But their opinions are not worth more than mine because they have won 5 premier leagues and a few cups.

Victoria have released an Official Statement. I hope this will clarify the position of Victoria Cricket Club at this time.

Re russler

"Get your facts right before posting rubbish"

A sentiment a lot of people choose to ignore when bashing CI.

Re Andy Kennedy

Discraceful comment, how about you leave ci financial matters to the club and perhaps concentrate more on your umpiring!

Michael,

Thank you for that clarification, but as I said to Russeller, there is a perception that certain players do get paid, even if this is not true.

Re Andy Owen,

Ballymena CC does not pay James Kennedy, David Kennedy, Andy Kirkpatrick, or Steve Lazars. With the exception of one year when Steve was our professional (2009), we never have done either.

Russeller,

My comments are based on a perception that many people have of certain local players in the Premier League, as well as Section One & Two.. I am not saying they are correct, but many people think this way.

Take yourself as an example, many people believe you where paid to play for Glendermott, if that is true then people think you are still paid to some degree.

Hats off to North Down for investing in their facilities, but your website mentions that this is only possible due to an interest free loan from an anonymous donor. Loans are very different to sponsorship...you have to repay them for one!

Hopefully my facts are a little bit straighter than last time.