Skipper steps aside in new era for Millpark

The club are set to enter a mid week league with a view to restoring a second team while first team captain Paul McCart is leaving the role to rejuvenate the club’s youth section.

Last year was bittersweet for the men from Millpark, with the 1st XI winning the Section 3 title the sweet but the demise of the 2nd XI leaving a bitter taste in the mouth.

For the 2016 season the club hope to consolidate their position in Section 2 but more importantly provide a cricketing outlet for squad players, beginners and the younger members of the club.

With that in mind the club have entered a mid week league comprising of Portadown Taverners, Monaghan, Clogher and Dungannon.

The league is played in mid week evenings with the top two sides playing in a final.

The competition is once again kindly sponsored by Roy Nicholl of RN Eye Wear in Clogher.

Millpark have also some Sunday friendlies in the pipeline with Dundalk keen to travel to picturesque Banford Green for the first time.

“I am hoping that the mid week league will provide a stepping stone to the firsts but also hopefully allow the club to re-enter a 2nd XI in the NCU competition in 2017,” said Paul McCart.

“However the priority must be a return of youth coaching to the club.

“I have been in contact with the NCU development officers over the past two years and I feel now with changes in the hierarchy of the club, there is now a desire to take action.”

Paul, who led the club to their first league title in 18 years, has decided to step down from the captaincy of the 1st XI to lead the Border League side and lead the Youth section.

“As an ECB Level 2 coach and teacher it makes sense for me to drive the Youth section forward.

“I hope to have support and guidance from the NCU and Cricket Ireland via Simon Johnston and Nigel Jones.”

The club are as always keen on new players of all ages. Millpark have a distinguished history of giving young players an opportunity in the 1st XI and that will no doubt continue under new skipper Stuart McCart.

Millpark are also keen on new sponsors with a new website in the pipeline, a large Twitter following and regular local media coverage, the club have various sponsorship options available.

Now all is needed is for the sun to shine with the season beginning away at Ards for a pre-season friendly on the 23rd April.