WELCOME TO THE 2019 CRICKET SEASON!
I am honoured to be this year’s president of our club, a post which I previously held and enjoyed in our centenary year of 2004 and in 2005. I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can at senior, junior, youth and women’s games and at our fund-raising events. I shall also, in the spirit of previous presidents, meet and greet at Park Avenue the players and supporters of our visiting teams.
Cricket in Railway Union, as in other clubs, has grown greatly in participation and back-up management and technology since we moved into the 21st century. We fully support and embrace such important issues as diversity & inclusion, anti-racism, and child protection and welfare as well physical safety on the field of play.
Sport is not just about playing the game but also about friendships, health and fun. Let us look to strengthening friendships, first within the Railway Union family, between players, officers, committees, vice-presidents, parents, coaches, umpires, scorers, grounds and bar staff, and the other sporting sections in Railway. Let us look outward in friendship to other clubs, visiting teams and their supporters, to the wider community, schools, churches, advertisers, sponsors, and media. We acknowledge the support of CricketIreland, CricketEurope and, in this their centenary year, CricketLeinster.
Club cricket in Ireland, especially in Railway Union, has been enhanced by the growing number of members from abroad, especially India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We welcome them and they refresh us with their enthusiasm, knowledge of the game and dedication.
Let us look forward to an enjoyable and successful season hoping for a repeat of last year’s sunny weather amid the splendid improvement in our grounds and facilities which have been enabled by generous sponsorship. I thank all of you who give so willingly of your time and talents to the growth and maintenance of our club. Members, young and old, we could not exist without you and your support of our fund-raising activities. Win, draw or lose, and always in the spirit of fair play, let us enjoy the summer of 2019, be friends and keep smiling.
Francis Xavier Carty
SAMI ASLAM FOR RAILWAY
Railway Union Cricket Club are delighted to announce that Sami Aslam will be our overseas professional for the 2019 season.
“I’m excited to be taking an opportunity to join RUCC for the 2019 season. This will be my first club engagement and having heard great things about the Leinster league standard and new competition structure, I cannot wait to get involved” Sami Aslam.
“I’m delighted to welcome Sami into our cricket family. I hope he will have a great time in Sandymount, score loads of runs, and help us win matches. We have some very promising young cricketers in the club who are buzzing at the prospect of playing and working with a player of his calibre. Bring it on!” Ciaran Divney 1st XI captain.
Sami is a young left-handed opening bat who has represented Pakistan in 13 test matches and 4 ODIs. The highlight of his career to date were scores of 82 and 70 in the 2016 Edgbaston test helping Pakistan towards drawing the series.
He has come up from the Pakistan under-19 ranks. He was a part of Pakistan under-19 team in both 2012 and 2014 World Cups. In fact he was the captain of the 2014 team which lost in the finals.
Railway Union Cricket Club would like to thank Haroon Khan and 24Doc for helping us to bring Sami to Park Avenue. We have no doubt that this generous support will help raise standards of our players, increase participation, and promote the game of cricket across Leinster.
KEVIN O’BRIEN AWAY IN INDIA
On behalf of everyone at the club, we would like to wish Kevin O’Brien and the rest of the Ireland Men’s team the very best of luck while they tough it out against Afghanistan in Dehradun in northern India. Ireland currently have their work cut out in the five match one day international series having lost the three match T20 series 3-0 just previous.
But the boys in green then have the added challenge of an historic one-off Test match immediately following; something Kevin may be seriously relishing considering the incredible ability he showed recording Ireland’s maiden test hundred in their very first test match last year in Malahide against Pakistan.
Ireland will be in action throughout the Summer, with a clear highlight being a four-day Test match against England at Lords on July 24th. You can find out more about their 2019 schedule here.
MIGHTY 2NDS COLLECT DIV 4 TROPHY
Shariq collected the Division 4 trophy on behalf of his team at the Cricket Leinster dinner before Christmas. 30 years after our last 2ndXI league title – Senior 2 in 1988. It was our fourth league title, the other two being Senior 2 in 1967 and Senior 3 in 1923.
In a pulsating league season, the table looks as if we dominated with 10 wins to runner up Malahide’s seven. But a series of nail biting matches meant our bonus point haul was the lowest in the division, and the final winning margin was only 38 points. On top of that, our bowling attack was ranked the 5th best in the division (and the batting only joint second). But due to grit, determination and sheer bloody mindedness, the team dragged themselves over the winning line – repeatedly. An incredible six matches could be classified as “close”. Read all about it here on the new Cricket Leinster website.
YOUTH EASTER CAMP
We are planning to run a Cricket and Multisport Easter Camp from Monday 15th April to Thursday 18th April.
We had hoped to hold it in Railway Union but there is someuncertaintly around the completion of the development work, so we can hold it in Marion College
Camp details:
Primary School Kids 9.30-1.30pm €80 Marion College
Secondary School Kids 2-4pm €40 Marion College
If you would like your child to attend, can you contact Vanessa at ruyouthcricket@gmail.com
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VICE PRESIDENTS’ LUNCH
While on the subject of diaries, do make sure to pencil in the Vice President’s Lunch which will be held in Railway Union on May, 25th during the First XI game against Cork Harlequins. We look to seeing as many of our Vice Presidents there as possible on what should be a great day for the club.
BAT ADS FOR HANDBOOK ANNUAL
Lastly, a very special thanks to everyone who has already been in contact to take out a bat advert in the Railway Union Cricket Club annual handbook, 2019. But for those who have not yet done so there is still time to take out a bat advert for just €50.
To have your name and wishes in a bat advert in the Railway Union Cricket Club annual handbook, 2019 please email: judycohen1955@gmail.com
