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I know I'll probably incur somebody's wrath but I can't resist asking if anybody saw Mr. Shah in the T/20 competition the other day - another run out - as the commentator said "awful runner". I rest my case about my earlier postings about him & Mr. Collingwood. Totally agree with big Jeff re "observer" - come off the fence and let us know who you are - or maybe the name you have chosen comes from the paper you read! - your opinions certainly reflect that!! As I have said before - we play a game not too many levels above village cricket so lets not get too many airs about ourselves. The Premier league will always be contested between the 3 or 4 best sides and no amount of money being waved about will change that. I'm sure regular forumites will recall the postings about the finances at Derriaghy & more latterly CI. Hasn't really brought success to the 1st XIs over the past few seasons. There is a world of difference between a "team" and a "side" and I'm sure we can see the contrast where there is the "emotional bonding" within a team. My only regret is that I didn't get to the Meadow this past season but then again "be careful what you wish for!"

RE: Observer

If you had of put your name to the previous post then I would have been able to give you some respect perhaps taking into consideration your standing and experience in the game. I will, however, assume that you can't see the bigger picture.

In case you need help understanding my previous post I think you'll find that I didn't vote for the 8 teams purely because of fixtures not being fulfilled. I am for it because I believe it will improve the overall state of the game in Ireland. This is based on my experience of having played at Irish Youth Level, Section 1 and then being involved with a junior club who have shown great ambition over the past few years to improve as a club.

It is interesting to note that you said I should be "predominately concerned with interests in my own club."

It is obvious that you do not know me or my club and the work we have put in over the past few years to improve given limited resources. I doubt if any other club in the NCU have taken as many steps as us to improve. This, without 1 shilling from any grant or sugar daddy makes it all the more satisfying on our part.

I understand that people have concerns about the 8 team league and I've just heard that it has not been passed however it's obvious that things arent working at the moment. You just have to look at people like yourself (Observer) who come on and post comments throughout the season about fixture backlog, rules that should be etc etc. Perhaps the idea of an 8 team league would alleviate some of these concerns.

It is also interesting to note the ignorance you show not just to Dundrum but Junior clubs in general. I agree that most established clubs wouldnt consider Dundrum as a team to be worried about but look at the facts. We are a village club with no cricket schools in the local area whereas the likes of North Down, Inst etc are from within large towns or cities where many schools play cricket. I wonder if Cliftonville disregarded Dundrum when we played them in the Senior Cup and beat them when they were part of Section 1. Were they not an established side?

I find your post hugely offensive to our club especially concerning the ground - at least we have our own ground! Yes I agree the wickets aren't the best you'll see, but we are trying to improve them and will over time.

Lastly you said...."in a very, very minority sport, how can less be good...!"

I think you'll find the reason it is a minority sport is because more is bad! Too many times have teams turned up and had to go home because of the weather - this wastes a full day for teenagers and young adults. Also the games are 50 overs per side which is an all day affair. Maybe if they were reduced to 30 or 40 overs especially in junior cricket then it would attract more people.

...or then again maybe the ECB are stupid for promoting 20/20 and shorter forms of cricket. What is the primary reason for this? Yes, it's entertainment. Why all the PR, yes entertainment and to attract a new audience and more cricketers.

So, your statement about less not being good is a rubbish statement.

In fact it's a rubbish post and I'm not sure why I even took the time to reply to a person that can't even put his name to a post.

Dundrum I have

RE Jeff:
Couldn't play this year as it was rained off...that should narrow it down for you...!(maybe not)

Dear Dear Jeff, calm dowm and draw breath...

I was not making an attack on Rodney, your ground, your groundsman, you postman, the ladies who make the teas etc. etc... or your club...!

It remains a fact, that no matter how much time, money and effort you put into to your lovely ground, it floods, namely due to it's eulogised position to the shimna...and for that reason alone, makes it difficult for playing cricket in a generally wet country...!

Therefore I can see why someone from Dundrum would benefit from 8 team leagues and less cricket...

Smile...

Jeff perhaps this is not fair - everyone knows that dundrum is not a batsmans paridise ( I know that you guys at dundrum do all in your power to make the ground better though!) Fair play to Rodney for comming out a supporting a motion that would probably harm your team (I assume dundrum would possibly struggle to make top six!) if most other clubs took this selfless attitude then maybe the motion would not have been defeated! At the end of the day work on a ground is a slow unrewarding buisness and the fact that money is being spennt on a pro (and not your ground) is only going to make any critism louder!

re ,observor , typical that u hide your name & your club as its easy too run other clubs down . 1 when if ever have u played at the meadow? if so how long ago ? . Dundrum has had our changing rooms burnt down twice we never received shilling of northern office or the ncu but since then we have built a lovely clubhouse (and we not in debt)we also have got covers and run up covers sightscreens ( plan is too have 2 at each end next year ).We have the hardest working groundsman tommy curlett who works 6 days a week UNPAID who is always up againest it as the ground floods every winter which does lot damage ie moss etc but it still doesnt deter him from wanting too improve the square next year 2 clay wickets are planned ,we have just put it more drainage last , a new concrete wicket ,extended the car park and spiked an resoiled the square with surrey loam so we have and will keep working too improve everything at dundrum (does your club do as much i doubt it )the club has got at least 20/30 at junior practice an have entered in under 13 league so for you too attack our club is totally UNFAIR as i seriously doubt you no how hard we all work at dundrum too play & enjoy cricket and ill tell you this ive bowled at the meadow over 25 years and it favours the bowler 60/40 but the good batsmen in every team all score lots runs here as the batsman concentrate more but believe and tommy would love too have square like strangford road or comber but unless we win the lottery we will have too make do with our ground that not too many players with REAL NAMES complain about , ps rodney is the only player in the team that voted for 8 team leagues & i hope the agm votes to stay at ten in leagues below premier but like your post reminds me OPINIONS ARE LIKE ARSEHOLES EVERYONE HAS ONE .

RE: Rodney Hassard

Rodney, although I respect your concerns for the International game and the Premier league, you like me and every other club member should be predominately concerned with your own clubs interests...

I would find it difficult to believe that the vast majority of established Premier Clubs, would be overly concerned with Dundrum or your like

Your ground at the meadow may be one of the more scenic grounds in the local game...however it remains equally the most unsuitable for cricket...!
I wonder if you were easily able to fulfil your fixtures, like most others, would you still vote for less games...?

This whole thing really is getting like "Turkeys voting for Christmas"

Lets hope it too, isn't just round the corner...!

Wake up everyone, don't sleepwalk into this.

It always has been and remains purley in the interests of Premier teams trying facilitate an overcrowded fixture list.( nothing to do with thelower leagues)

Vote for this and the next proposal could be 6 teams...in a very, very minority sport, how can less be good...!

Wake up all...

Sorry my last post should read, 2 going up and 2 down from our league in section 4 and same for Division 2, still a very good proposal and I,ll be voting for that at to-nights A.G.M.

Well Gerry, as I work shift-work and I can't get out for a bowl because of the blinking rain,there's not much else to do on a wet tuesday morning/afternoon.

However at least someone else has plenty of time to read my posts:
"YOU"

Hello Vic you must have nothing else to do than write on this forum !! and I haven,t got my ticket for the North pole yet ?? could you make it four [wife & 2 children ] talking about tickets don,t forget yours for the AGM tonight and if you see Andy Kennedy there ask him is there any umpire courses for you
because the last time you put on the white coat i thought you were directing aircraft at Aldergrove

8 or 10 team league?

My personal opinion is that we should go for an 8 team league and here are my reasons why:

1) Local Improvement

Teams will be playing against better teams as opposed to waiting / try to beat the weak teams. If cricketers / clubs have any ambition then they will want to pit themselves against the best there is at a standard they should be playing and beat them.

2) International Improvement

As a result of point 1 hopefully we will produce better players having played a much more competitive standard on a regular basis.

3) Increase competition

If there are only 8 teams with 1 up and 1 down then it will be harder to get promoted. This will/should make things more competitive.

4) Free up Saturdays

Irrespective of what people think, the facts are that we are losing a whole month from our cricket season due to weather. This would prevent fixture back log and possibly attract more cricketers due to the lesser committment of playing Sundays etc.

5) Balance Standards

There is quite a gulf in standard between the best in the Premier league and the rest. Rather than players turning up on a Saturday and playing out of their depth it would provide a more even keel of a playing field i.e were the teams should be playing

It's obvious that giong for an 8 team league will make it more difficult for my club (Dundrum) but as well as taking into consideration the impact this will have we all should think about the bigger picture and the state of cricket in general.

How many people loved it when Ireland went to the world cup and wanted more but yet when the Union propose to do something about making this happen more often we all stick to our clubs and stay short sighted.

Don't like to hogg the forum here, but would just like to eat a bit of humble pie as it were!

Having taken the time to read through all the proposals for to-nites A.G.M. They are all fairly good,common sense ideas for the 2011 season and I for one don't have an issue with any of them.

However I was critical of restructuring and reducing league size, but having read the proposals properly; Serial 9,10 and 11 are particular good ideas.
They allow for a slight reduction in the upper leagues of Senior Section and Division 1 but allow the bottom league of these sections to remain as they are, with two teams dropping down from above and only one going up.
Meaning our league does not get even smaller but should even increase, hence more matches and more quality.

Well thought out by the Cricket Directive people!

The Park-Ranger
Now we are singing from the same 'hym-sheet', no all as before at our A.G.M. although we think we have enough for a third team next season and will probably go ahead and enter one.

So the 'Good ship,Victoria' is making progress, except for one small problem.
I think that boy Gerry Mallin, is onboard and hiding down below in the decks somewhere!!

If you find him before me, do us all a favour and throw him "Overboard"!!!

Saturday 17th 5:05pm
Gilly enjoy your ale tonight son, I certainly will be!!!

Mabye they'll listen to us now!!!

RACING TIPS 1 pistol jack 245 downpatrick 2 the only boss 215 catterick . 3 fame and glory 3pm newmarket . ps john by the way what is wrong with wanting the best for dundrum as its the junior clubs that keep cricket going not the premier clubs , imo it should be 8 teams in premier try it for 2 seasons see how it works then if clubs see its good for all then vote for 8team leagues . pps i still think if we played more 40 over 2 night derby matches & less sunday it be better & i hope they dont change it this year but we will abide by the majority

No, I agree with you there Vic. The cricket has to come first. It is ludicrous to prioritise watching a football match, compared to playing for your cricket club. There is a cricket season and there is a football season, let them remain as such.

Wasn't able to make the AGM tonight because of other commitments. Any interesting goings on? All happy on the good "ship" Victoria?

Hope Gerry Mallin and Vic Jons don't give up on the cricket, rumour has it they have aquired one of the tall ships and will be taking up a life on the ocean waves next summer. All being well we'll see them next spring