ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2026

The NCU Annual General Meeting was attended by over 80 members and representatives from across the Union.

NCU Chair Andrew Cowden welcomed attendees and reflected on a successful 2026 season. He highlighted the international fixtures hosted at Stormont, including the Test Match against New Zealand in late May and the historic 2-0 T20 series victory by Ireland Men over India, one of the most significant achievements in Irish cricket history. He also provided updates on facility developments at both Stormont and Waringstown and expressed his thanks to clubs, volunteers and administrators whose commitment continues to drive cricket forward across the Union. Following his recent passing, attendees paid tribute to former NCU President Bryan Milford in recognition of his significant contribution to cricket within the Union and beyond.

 

Chief Executive Callum Atkinson presented the Annual Report, providing an update on the work of the staff team and outlining key developments during the year, including the progress of the Belfast Wolves partnership. Finance Directorate Richard Booth delivered the Financial Report, presenting a positive assessment of the Union’s financial position. He outlined the organisation’s current financial health and provided an overview of the business objectives that will help shape future investment and development across the game.

 

The meeting acknowledged the contribution of outgoing President Ian Houston, who had previously advised that his term would be limited to one year. Members heard of Ian’s extensive service to both the NCU and NIACUS, balancing his role as Appointments Secretary, standing in numerous fixtures throughout the season, and undertaking presidential duties during 2026.

 

Andy Clement and Dean Simpson were duly elected as President and Vice-President respectively. In his remarks, Andy thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as President and expressed his appreciation to Muckamore Cricket Club for its support. He also spoke of his enthusiasm for the year ahead and his intention, alongside Dean, to visit as many clubs as possible throughout 2027. The AGM also noted that Andrew Cowden and Alan Waite remain in office as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively as they enter the second year of their terms.

 

Domestic Director Alan Waite provided an update on domestic cricket matters, including ongoing reviews of competition structures and potential amendments to NCU bye-laws that may be considered in the near future. Members were also informed of a number of upcoming NCU initiatives and events. These included the Youth Review, Masters Cricket Review, and a NIACUS Level 1 Umpiring Course. The newly appointed Chair of the Women’s Committee, Rachael Thomas, also addressed the meeting regarding the forthcoming Women & Girls Workshop. The workshop forms part of a wider strategic focus on developing a long-term action plan for women’s and girls’ cricket across the Union. Alan Waite thanked Rachael for the significant time and energy she has already committed to this important project.

During the formal business of the AGM, members considered a number of Notices of Motion. The result of each motion and the resulting changes to NCU rules and regulations are detailed below.

 

NOTICES OF MOTION TO AMEND GENERAL OR COMPETITION RULES

 

Serial 1 – Proposed by Finance Directorate – Passed

General Rule 2(a) – Amend school fees as follows:

School affiliation – replace £25 with £30

School competition entry fee – replace £15 per team with £20

[This would increase annual fees for schools to reflect cost inflation since they were last reviewed in 2021.]

 

Serial 2 – Proposed by Domestic Cricket Directorate – Passed

Competition Rules A15-32 – Replace ‘Registrations Committee’ with ‘Eligibility Committee’.

[This would rename the Registrations Committee in line with its current role following the introduction of online self-registration.]

 

Serial 3 – Proposed by Domestic Cricket Directorate – Passed

Competition Rule C1 – Replace ‘Premier League and Senior League Section 1’ with ‘Premier League and the four teams in Senior League Section 1 with the highest placings at the end of the previous season’.

Competition Rule D1 – Add after ‘open to’ ‘the four teams in Senior League Section 1 with the lowest placings at the end of the previous season and to all’

[This would confine participation in the Challenge Cup to the sixteen highest-ranked teams, based on the previous season’s league results, the four lowest-ranked teams in Section 1 transferring to the Junior Cup.]

 

Serial 4 – Proposed by Board – Passed

Competition Rule E1 – Amend sectional compositions to read:

• Intermediate Cup                       Junior League Sections 2 & 3
• Minor (Lindsay) Cup                  Junior League Sections 4, 5 & 6
• Minor Qualifying Cup                Junior League Sections 7, 8 & 9
• Emerging (Lunney) Cup            Junior League Sections 10 & 11
• Development Cup                      Junior League Section 12

Competition Rule E2 – After ‘Minor Qualifying’ insert ‘Emerging (Lunney)’

Competition Rule E4 – Amend fourth indent to read:

• 25 overs in the Emerging (Lunney) and Development Cups.

[This would create a new cup competition between the Minor Qualifying and Development Cups and adjust the composition of the three most junior competitions accordingly better to reflect current team numbers.]

 

Serial 5 – Proposed by Domestic Cricket Directorate – Passed

Competition Rule F9 (d) – Replace ‘Section 7 or below’ with ‘Section 12’.

[This would remove the right of teams in Junior League Sections 7 to 11 to agree to postpone fixtures, bringing them into line with Sections 1 to 6.  Teams competing in Section 12 (the development league) would retain the ability to agree postponements.]

 

 

 

Serial 6 – Proposed by Domestic Cricket Directorate – Passed

Competition Rule F20 – Delete ‘on the following basis, ‘(i) in the Senior League and Sections 1 to 4 of the Junior League’ and sub-section ii.

[This would extend to Junior League 5 and below the use of net run rate over the current season (rather than the immediately previous season’s league placing) as the initial basis for determining promotion and relegation where teams are tied at the top or bottom of a section.]

 

Serial 7 – Proposed by Armagh CC – Passed

Competition Rule G4 (ii) – After ‘second Thursday’ insert ‘(second Sunday for matches after 31 August)’’

[This would replace the second Thursday with the second Sunday as the default date for Match 2 rearrangements in September.]

 

Serial 8 – Proposed by the Domestic Cricket Directorate – Passed

Competition Rule G26 – Replace ‘5 pm in September’ with ‘4.30 pm in September’.

Competition Rule H15 – Replace ‘5 pm in August and September’ with ‘5.30 pm in August or 4.30 pm in September’.

[This would standardise the latest starting time for a Match 2 in August or September as 5.30 or 4.30 pm respectively.]

 

Serial 9 – Proposed by the Domestic Cricket Directorate- Passed

Competition Rule H11 – After ‘31^st August’ insert ‘for the second Tuesday following the postponement or abandonment or, with both clubs’ agreement,’ and ‘other’ after ‘any’.

[This would introduce a default rearrangement date of the second Tuesday following the postponement or abandonment for rearrangements in Junior League Section 2 and below.]