Over the winter, Clogher Cricket Club has made a successful bid to join the venues of the Belfast-based Northern Cricket Union League and Cup competition during the forthcoming summer.

It is a brave and forward-looking move, and while it will make big demands of time and travel, it will also open up a whole new competitive element for a club whose policy has always been to provide maximum opportunity for its many young and developing players.

Their team will play in Division 4 of the NCO League where opponents will include the likes of Ards, Donaghadee, Cregagh, Victoria from Lurgan and the PSNI.

The team is included in the NCU Junior Cup, where first round opponents will be Dundrum, at the Co. Down venue on 5th May.

Their first league match is scheduled for April 28th, away to PSNI. This is something of a coincidence because several of the driving forces behind the club in recent years are ex-RUC/PSNI members.

Marc Holmes and Pete Reeve are the hard-working Chairman and Secretary respectively, while the captaincy is held by ex-Enniskillen player Kerry Maxwell.

Practice night is on Tuesday each week, starting in mid-April, and anyone interested in the game will be made welcome at the immaculately maintained ground alongside the A4 road just outside of Clogher village going towards Fivemiletown.

The club officials are quick to point out the debt of gratitude that they owe to their many sponsors, and highlight how important this help is as they face their new venture.

Local cricketers will wish them well, and the Northern Union has already accorded the Club a warm welcome. Competition will be stiff, but week by week the team can be sure of an equally warm reception as they meet a whole new range of opponents.