Forum

Big wind up Mark!
I can just see the 'new audience' arriving with their flags, flute band and marchers. It's taken us 40 years to get back to some form of normality so let's not start it all again. You can keep your wider audience.

Tommy Allen
Like many others from the NCU I travelled to Eglinton on numerous occasions in the 1980s and 1990s and enjoyed some great cricket and even greater camaraderie in the clubhouse. One of the main reasons for that was the hospitality of the hosting club and its members, one of whom was the lovely Tommy Allen. He was a true gentleman of North-West cricket and a great ambassador for both his club and his union. He was also a fine player in his day but rarely would you have known such was his modesty. He served the Eglinton club with distinction as club secretary for many years and it was sad to learn of his passing earlier this week.
Sincere condolences to his family.

What about a representative competition using the electoral boundaries and each team sponsored by the sitting MP or a government body responsible for fostering a new era in community awareness? Great concept for grant aid from Uncle Sam, DUP, Sinn Fein, EEC, Irish and UK governments. Time to look to a wider audience.

Have to agree with Michael on the interpros. They were past their sell-buy date when the ICU brought in the Development Squad and killed off the regional passion that had been there before. At the end too many players opted out and all the fizz had gone from the competition. Teams were picked by club delegates and the bias showed. Surely we don't want to go back to that nonsense?

The unwarranted criticism of Under 19 coach Brian O'Rourke is typical of the malaise in modern sport where if a team doesn't reach expectations the coach has to be the scapegoat. We see it in football and rugby all the time and it shows just how mercenary and selfish supposed 'supporters' can be when things don't go the way they want. Real supporters get behind the team and its management through thick and thin.

Michael you must have read my mind or my article or both!
I have to agree with your sentiments as time has moved on and our needs in 2008 are different to what was happening in the 80s and 90s. Also although I stayed clear of the 'hired gun' issue (local and overseas) it is a serious consideration that may also have to be addressed within this debate.

All this talk about bringing back the interpros seems to forget the reasons why they were kicked out. The senior management within the ICU didn't want them, a lot of the players didn't want to play in them, nobody went to watch them, and there was no sponsor. What's so different now?
If we need a stepping stone to international cricket then it has to be a new format with a competitive edge and meaningful cricket. Reading some of the suggestions put forward we may need to pass the hat round to fund it. Without a major sponsor it will be a joke.

Armagh Cricket Club have a new site up and running. It can be found at; www.armaghcricketclub.com
Check it out and tell us what you think of it or have any suggestions to improve it email me or leave a comment in out guestbook.

Thanks

Robin, I'm up for that especially now that "the coach" can keep an eye on the NW talent. Staffy a couple of good seasons and you might even be "player/coach". Clarence what is the best time of year to tour? Who is the visiting test nation in 2010? I'll have to get a few tips from big Roy.

I'm on board Robin. Might even get a match with some of the names mentioned although I'm always a match in the bar!
Let's work on it as I'll do all I can to make it happen from the Barbados end.
Regards,
Clarence

Staffy leave my bowling at the 3 w's out of this!!!
See you soon at beechgrove - think sunday 24th may but may be wrong.

Make mine a double.

What a fantastic idea Robin. You, me and big Ivan propping up a bar putting the world to right. I think there would be more rum and coke drunk than sense talked!

its time for a northern ireland cricket team tour. destination barbados in 2010, with i mccombe and staffy managing and coaching and jc hiles planning. touring party of 15? picked purely on merit over the next 2 summers, what an incentive for our cricketers to know that 2 super seasons with bat or ball could book a place on the plane to barbados to represent your country. i,ll be speaking to a few people early summer about interest and planning.

Super Club?
All of the evidence points the other way. The most successful clubs in NCU and North West cricket history have been cricket only clubs. Waringstown, North Down, Lisburn, Downpatrick, Brigade , Donemana, Strabane, Sion Mills with more occcasional successes for others.