Wilson enjoying home comforts as Newbuildings chase silverware

Few players in North West cricket combine leadership, experience and all-round ability quite like Jared Wilson.

The Newbuildings star has returned for a second spell at the club and, with his side firmly in the hunt for honours on three fronts believes there is every reason to be optimistic despite a frustratingly stop-start season.

"I think everyone's super frustrated with the weather," he says. "You know when the weather's good and suddenly you're playing the next match, but this year it feels like games are dragging on. We just want to keep playing because we've been growing as a team."

That growth has been reflected in Newbuildings' results. They sit second in the Premiership, have reached the semi-finals of the Faughan Valley Cup and have a home Senior Cup quarter-final against Strabane next week.

Wilson, however, believes there is room for improvement.

"If we're being hard on ourselves, we should be number one," he admits. "The slip-up against Fox Lodge didn't do us any good, but maybe it was a wake-up call. We might have become a little complacent, but we know where we stand and if we keep doing the right things hopefully we'll finish where we want to be."

Having captained Newbuildings to their only Premiership title in 2022, Wilson believes the current squad is even stronger than the one that collected silverware in the past.

"On paper, definitely stronger," he says. "Having Peat Salmon with us has made a huge difference. We didn't have a professional when I was here before and his experience is invaluable. Our middle order is stacked and his bowling has been amazing.

"Then you've got Josh Wilson coming into the team. Having him opening the bowling has been brilliant for us. The last time I was here everything seemed to go our way. This year, in terms of personnel, I think we're stronger. Time will tell if that translates into trophies."

One aspect of Newbuildings that particularly excites Wilson is the strength of the club's youth system. On any given evening, the nets are packed with youngsters dreaming of following the current first team into senior cricket.

"There is a real buzz around the club," he says. "The club has invested heavily in youth cricket and it's paying off. People like Raymond Mitchell and Peter Allen saw the potential years ago and put the foundations in place.

"It helps when the first team is doing well because the kids want to watch and be part of it. But it's bigger than cricket. Everything happens at the sports complex. The football club is thriving too, there are hundreds of kids involved, and families spend their weekends there. It's become the heart of the community."

Wilson's experience extends beyond the North West. Having played with Cliftonville Academy in the NCU, he believes the gap between North West and Belfast cricket is often exaggerated.

"I don't think the jump is as big as people think," he says. "There are three or four exceptional teams in Belfast, such as Instonians, Lisburn and Waringstown, but after that everything is pretty even.

"What Belfast sides often have are outstanding individual players like Ruhan Pretoius who can take a game away from you. We saw that too in our Irish Senior Cup defeat against Railway Union from the Leinster Cricket Union. Liam McCarthy ripped through us and suddenly you're under pressure. But man for man, I don't think we're far away."

He also believes the North West Warriors are heading in the right direction with encouraging players to be locally based.

"The Warriors want to be a team that players aspire to play for," he says. "If players from elsewhere see opportunities here, why wouldn't they come? There are some very talented cricketers in Belfast and Dublin who might find a clearer route through the North West. That's positive for everyone.

“We have seen Melvin Deveraj and Hassan Shahid travel here and that can only strengthen the local game.”

Away from cricket, Wilson's priorities have changed. Living just two minutes from the ground with his family has transformed his relationship with the game.

"My kids Reuben and Eden are starting to love cricket and that was a massive reason for coming back," he explains. "When I was travelling, I'd leave at seven in the morning and get home at nine at night. Now they can come and watch me play.

"Cricket is about the social side as well. It's about the memories you make with people. Hopefully I can score a hundred, enjoy a beer afterwards and be home a couple of minutes later."

Wilson is also embarking on a new business venture after leaving the cricket recruitment company he founded. His latest project, SportBnk, uses artificial intelligence to help sports clubs and organisations generate sponsorship and commercial revenue.

With family, business and cricket all flourishing, life is in a good place for Wilson. And if Newbuildings can turn their promise into trophies over the coming months, it could become an even more memorable year for one of the North West's most talented cricketers.