Gary Wilson and Reggie Stinson were inducted into the NCU Hall of Fame at the union’s Annual Dinner in the Stormont Pavilion and Ballymena’s George Glass was the inaugural winner of the Bryan Milford award
Wilson, now of course, the Ireland head coach made the last of his 292 international appearances in 2020 but is still the fifth most capped Ireland player. As wicket-keeper he had 193 dismissals, second only to Niall O’Brien and scored 5,956 runs, placing him sixth in the pecking order.
A long-term member of Civil Service North, he also played county cricket for Surrey and Derbyshire. As he is currently in Namibia with the Ireland squad, his award was received by his three sons, Oliver, Oscar and Freddie and proved one of the highlights of the night.
Stinson, an Armagh legend, made his first senior appearance at the age of 15 in 1973, against CIYMS when he dismissed Simon Corlett. He played for four decades, making 596 appearances, scoring 7,500 runs and taking more than 1,000 wickets. His proudest moment was opening the bowling with his son, Mark.
The Bryan Milford award, in memory of the former president and long-serving general secretary, who died this year, will honour the unsung servants at clubs for their work behind the scenes.
‘Mr Ballymena’ has been the mainstay at Eaton Park for more than 40 years as a coach, committee member, groundsman and historian. Even now, in his 80s, George Glass is still preparing pitches, marking boundary lines and looking after equipment. He wrote the history of Ballymena Cricket Club to coincide with club’s 150th anniversary in 2004.
Civil Service North’s Adam Leckey was named as the Premier League Cricketer of the Year with Waringstown’s Ireland international Abbi Harrison winning the Women’s equivalent.
Holywood Ladies’ Steve Kruger was named Coach of the Year after their all-conquering season and the Donaghcloney Mill Grounds Team won that award after ensuring play was possible at the Factory Ground last season despite the winter rain which flooded the ground.
While the vast majority of clubs who won trophies were present to receive the cups, not one member of Lisburn turned up, despite the club winning the T20 Cup, Women’s Challenge Plate and other junior cups. Undoubtedly an embarrassment for NCU CEO Callum Atkinson.
Other individual award winners – Cricketers of the Year: Men’s Senior One Samuel Wilson (Armagh), Senior Two Dayamanda Gowdappa (BISC) Senior Three Neil Gelston (Drumaness). Women’s Senior One Laura Tonks (Bangor)
Premier Division Batters of the Year: Morgan Topping and Abbi Harrison (both Waringstown); Bowlers of the Year: Greg Thompson (Waringstown) and Nina Kerr (Holywood Ladies); All rounders of the Year: Andrew White (Instonians) and Lara Maritz (Holywood Ladies); Wicket-keepers of the Year Marco Bates (Muckamore) and Christina Soulsby (Holywood Ladies). Under-15 Cricketers of the Year: Felix McMillan (Bangor) and Penny Speer (Waringstown)