They also drove interest.
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Club cricket - paying players
- Thread starter essex boy
- Start date
Voice of fair play
Striker
They did, but the post above your first post sums it up nicely.
Personally speaking I hate having to spend a lot of voluntary time on efforts to generate funds for a bunch of nice but very sackless local lads who give very little back in terms helping juniors, grounds maintenance or putting money back over the bar.
I cant say I have seen much of a drop off in the calibre of overseas but each to their own
Herr Lipp
Central Defender
I played in a junior team in the mid 90's at under 13 level. The team had always been made up of lads who lived in the village. One year when we had one excellent player (nearly made it professionally) and his dad was coach of the team, who "signed" 2 ringers in from outside the area.
We won the league but no one apart from those three and maybe one of two others ever had a bat or a bowl. Bit sad really that lads who would potentially stay and play for the club throughout their lives would possibly jack it in for the sake of a vanity project and short term glory for a junior village cricket team.
It's all a bit pathetic, it should just be players local to the club getting together and having fun.
We won the league but no one apart from those three and maybe one of two others ever had a bat or a bowl. Bit sad really that lads who would potentially stay and play for the club throughout their lives would possibly jack it in for the sake of a vanity project and short term glory for a junior village cricket team.
It's all a bit pathetic, it should just be players local to the club getting together and having fun.
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SAFC2403
Striker
I’m all for overseas pris being paid but I’m against local lads being paid as “pros”. Lots of those local lads have a list of clubs as long as your arm and just move where the cash is. We’ve seen a number of clubs nearly fold due to the money men packing in and a lot of players moving on.
I’ve been drafted into 1st teams in the past in emergency and the attitude of some of these local lads f***ing stank and offered fuck all that I saw.
I’d heard of some clubs paying players in div 4 of the Durham league ffs.
I’ve been drafted into 1st teams in the past in emergency and the attitude of some of these local lads f***ing stank and offered fuck all that I saw.
I’d heard of some clubs paying players in div 4 of the Durham league ffs.
Overseas tend to help out with all of that. Local “pros” much less so. The majority just bleeding clubs dry and then moving somewhere else.
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Lumley End
Full Back
Last season in NYSD Sunday Conf we faced players getting paid, didn’t understand what they were achieving. They were clearly too good to be playing that level and the clubs weren’t achieving anything, certainly didn’t when you looked at the table end of the season anyway.
This season we’ve lost a lad from our Saturday side because he was getting offered money elsewhere. He was ‘good’. Worth paying for? No chance. My skipper on a Sunday has been offered money, nothing major, but money all the same just because he’s a competent keeper. But again, the club he’s been offered money by are never going to be world beaters and never going to be in a position to either, so why feel the need to offer a standard Sunday keeper money?
This season we’ve lost a lad from our Saturday side because he was getting offered money elsewhere. He was ‘good’. Worth paying for? No chance. My skipper on a Sunday has been offered money, nothing major, but money all the same just because he’s a competent keeper. But again, the club he’s been offered money by are never going to be world beaters and never going to be in a position to either, so why feel the need to offer a standard Sunday keeper money?
I don’t really get the money aspect of it mind I admit, never have done - because there’s no money to be made from the game as far as I can see
The prize money involved is minimal and it isn’t like hundreds are flocking to grounds and sitting drinking beer all day to make the bar takings worthwhile.
If one of the leagues’ money men is on here and can explain it that’d be appreciated
I didn’t say that.
I was talking about the aspects of structure and professionalism.
Again, you’ve twisted my words. See above.
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Tongey
Striker
One of the reasons I stopped playing. Was never going to be good enough for first team, but played 2nd and captained the 3rds at a young age.
Had people leaving one year then coming back because they were being thrown a few quid, no loyalty to the club, yet those who turned upto nets, played games at short notice, traveled to places as 12th man, scored etc all got shit on because of a few decent players who got paid.
Had people leaving one year then coming back because they were being thrown a few quid, no loyalty to the club, yet those who turned upto nets, played games at short notice, traveled to places as 12th man, scored etc all got shit on because of a few decent players who got paid.
FatCat2402
Winger
I don’t really get the money aspect of it mind I admit, never have done - because there’s no money to be made from the game as far as I can see
The prize money involved is minimal and it isn’t like hundreds are flocking to grounds and sitting drinking beer all day to make the bar takings worthwhile.
If one of the leagues’ money men is on here and can explain it that’d be appreciated
I didn’t say that.
I was talking about the aspects of structure and professionalism.
Again, you’ve twisted my words. See above.
Apologies, I missed that you were saying that the introduction of NEPL had improved local cricket. I thought you were referring to the current fashion of paying lads who would have struggled to get in a decent 2nd XI back in the 70s and 80s.
Eggman
Striker
I don’t get why any club chairman would agree to paying some of these decidedly average lads, to turn out for their club.
The whole essence of a ‘cricket club’ is to build a local community with ideally local lads making up the bulk of a team.
Not some one season wonder who will ruin the team spirit by f***ing off at the first sign of a bit more cash.
There is little or no prize money in club cricket, so what are these clubs hoping to achieve ?
The whole essence of a ‘cricket club’ is to build a local community with ideally local lads making up the bulk of a team.
Not some one season wonder who will ruin the team spirit by f***ing off at the first sign of a bit more cash.
There is little or no prize money in club cricket, so what are these clubs hoping to achieve ?
eddyfinn
Striker
The paying side of local cricket up here is ridiculous to be honest, I think other areas have rules to try and combat it such as in the Lancashire league you must live within a certain distance of the club you are signing for and must sign a pro. The majority of the time when you try and sign someone the first thing they reply with is how much they want. Unfortunately its a bit of a culture thing now so not sure much will change and generally if you want to improve or keep on par as a club you need to spend to recruit. Fair play to the clubs that don't but you also know by doing that you will have to settle or await some hard times.
I don't have any issue with the likes of Poynter and a good few others getting money I mean essentially they are playing the equivalent of National league football and are very good but some who get paid are an absolute joke. I mean when players as low as Division 4 of the Durham and North East Cricket League are getting paid you know its bad.
You see the lads who move about season after season touting themselves for 5k even travelling from as far as Stockton as there local leagues have had enough of them but they still find clubs willing to pay.
I don't have any issue with the likes of Poynter and a good few others getting money I mean essentially they are playing the equivalent of National league football and are very good but some who get paid are an absolute joke. I mean when players as low as Division 4 of the Durham and North East Cricket League are getting paid you know its bad.
You see the lads who move about season after season touting themselves for 5k even travelling from as far as Stockton as there local leagues have had enough of them but they still find clubs willing to pay.
Sillypoint
Central Defender
i Think thats why the league changed the format to batters retiring at 30 and having a minimum of 7 bowlers for under 13's, as a couple of teams went a bit like that
I dont really like the NEPL structure to be honest, too many teams made from historical pit villages forced to almost become professional and for what gain??? i dont know where all the money comes from,
Yes the likes of south north are in a well off area and make fortune from membership fees, then youve the burnopfield's who sold off old grounds and ended up quids in, but its getting silly
Which i think in turn has made the lower leagues feel they need to it too, like others have said Div 3 and 4 paying players is madness
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Interesting debate on the standard vs 25 years ago. When I started playing senior cricket in 95 as a young batsman, it was an absolute nightmare. Mainly due to the fact most sides had a top overseas bowling 40% of the overs, with another couple of paid lads taking the majority of the rest. I remember playing Lanchester with Rana and Mirza bowling pretty much all of the overs. As a 15/16 yr old never really having played spin I had no chance!!
Equally though there were 3 or 4 players not really doing anything other than fielding, and kids packing in left, right and centre rather than watch the same people do everything every week.
Granted maybe its easier to make runs now in a world where teams have to use 5 or even 6 bowlers, but I think its harsh to say the quality has regressed.
Equally though there were 3 or 4 players not really doing anything other than fielding, and kids packing in left, right and centre rather than watch the same people do everything every week.
Granted maybe its easier to make runs now in a world where teams have to use 5 or even 6 bowlers, but I think its harsh to say the quality has regressed.
pavarotti1980
Striker
Burnopfield made next to nothing from selling the ground and building the new one. They have a generous benefactor who no doubt writes it off against his business. Even if they made money it is non-recurrent so would only last a few years and nothing to make it back again.
Sillypoint
Central Defender
It was more than a like for like swap with Barretts, but yes after being there about a decade now that money will be long gone, Heard they make a few quid from having the mobile mast in the ground too
But thats kind of the point, if he leaves or his money dries up where does that leave the club, the heart and soul has gone from the move and their step up to NEPL, not many houses around it, clubhouse rarely open when theres no games, hardly any local lads in the first XI, Id even heard their Girls team is all lasses shipped in from south north
SAFC2403
Striker
This is exactly it in my opinion - When you are drafted in at late notice and expected to pay your subs and you look around the dressing room and most of them are taking out and not putting in you think "Why should i bother" fair enough these lads are better than me but they arent anywhere near as invested in the club as I am - i pay my subs etc and most of it goes in these dickheads pockets.
It will drive a lot of players away.
Clubs need to decide what it is they actually want from cricket. At the end of the day most clubs are their to represent their members. If the members want a successful PL team, and generate enough cash to do so, then great. However many clubs are now run by 2 or 3 people who ASSUME that is what is best for the club. In reality their club would exist with or without a team challenging for the NEPL. Without these people pushing ahead there will still likely be a core group who would look after the club, and facilitate getting cricket games on at the weekend, with local lads playing for the fun of it.
I mean, even if you win the NEPL, its great for a bit, but does anyone really care. The prize money is minimal. These teams are vanity projects for many, to the detriment of local lads and lasses.
I mean, even if you win the NEPL, its great for a bit, but does anyone really care. The prize money is minimal. These teams are vanity projects for many, to the detriment of local lads and lasses.
Sadly it's these clubs that spend to 'keep on par' which are the first to suffer when the funding disappears or committed club members have had enough with being taken for a ride as mentioned above.
As a club, we've survived up till now without the need of paying anyone, but it's getting more and more difficult - especially when even journey men are approaching clubs and expecting some form of cash.
Last year, having a pro was often the difference between winning games, which is quite often the case but with playing numbers already declining, having more and more clubs willing to pay for slightly higher mediocre players is having an impact too.
SAFC2403
Striker
We dont pay anyone and our first team is in division 3 - We were in with a shout of promotion towards the back end of the season and the chat on the comittee was about getting a pro in - quite a few were against it but if we went into div 2 i think it would be a neccessity. We've probably found our level in div 3 in all honesty but we are now investing more time into our junior section which has been poor over recent years so we are at least investing in the future and not journeymen.
