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[JMB174]

my club is looking to sign an overseas amateur for next season. so far i have contacted 2 agencies and both have said that most players would expect a flight thrown with their package !?!
when speaking to them i expained we would offer free digs also the opportunity of several types of jobs including coaching at our club and ground work. does a flight them take them into the professional bracket ?

[tate035]

my club is looking to sign an overseas amateur for next season. so far i have contacted 2 agencies and both have said that most players would expect a flight thrown with their package !?!
when speaking to them i expained we would offer free digs also the opportunity of several types of jobs including coaching at our club and ground work. does a flight them take them into the professional bracket ?

You doing this because your league has suddenly allowed overseas amateurs? 😉

[Vitas Cricket]

my club is looking to sign an overseas amateur for next season. so far i have contacted 2 agencies and both have said that most players would expect a flight thrown with their package !?!
when speaking to them i expained we would offer free digs also the opportunity of several types of jobs including coaching at our club and ground work. does a flight them take them into the professional bracket ?

No, paying them per run/wicket or an agreed amount per week takes them into the professional bracket. There are exceptions but nowadays the minimum an agent will expect to be offered to their player is flight and accommodation. I'm not saying i agree with it but thats the reality nowadays.

If you get lucky or if you have contacts in an area or at a club you can sometimes stumble across someone happy to pay their own way and come over, but these guys are few and far between in recent years.

[ppccopener]

to answer your question no I don't think it does, ive found a club sponsor or wealthy member would see covering a flight cost as pretty normal.

We play against paid players in our league and I fundamentally disagree with the whole concept personally but my views are not reflected by my own club let alone others outside so I think it's pretty much accepted maybe with free match fees/subs

and as Vitas says above, then next step paid runs/wickets etc....

[six and out]

we have a rule in our league that is no 'paid players' - so that basically means players aren't allowed to be paid to play. But it is all rubbish to be honest because clubs if they want can still get players over and pay them in other ways if they want and skirt round the system.

to answer your original question - if you go through an agent/website - the minimum will be flight and accom - however if you speak to clubs and players personally you may be able to sort something out - usually it will depend on the level of player you want and their age - for example if you find an up and coming youngster sometimes they can pay the flight if you provide everything else because they are coming over for the experience etc....

[tate035]

to answer your question no I don't think it does, ive found a club sponsor or wealthy member would see covering a flight cost as pretty normal.

We play against paid players in our league and I fundamentally disagree with the whole concept personally but my views are not reflected by my own club let alone others outside so I think it's pretty much accepted maybe with free match fees/subs

and as Vitas says above, then next step paid runs/wickets etc....

I asked my question because our league after 140 years has decided to allow each club an over seas amateur. I personally think it's because they are merging with a league that pays for pro's and by allowing an amateur over seas it will allow the bigger or wealthy clubs the opportunity to mingle with the big boys.
Potentially about 20 clubs could be looking for an overseas next season....

[Mr_Orange]

I find that it depends on the level being played and the player who is coming to play. My personal opinion is that anything outside of an ECB Premier League shouldn't have paid players but that's not the way of the world unfortunately.

My club had an overseas player for a season as a trial and he was an 18/19 year old coming to play his first year abroad. All we had to supply was accommodation and a job. Other teams in our league look for more established players who have a track record at home (First class games) or have had success in England elsewhere - these are the guys that tend to be more expensive and will want flights, accommodation, money for runs/wickets or a flat fee for the year.

The leagues above us will just pay a flat rate for the season or per game because they only look for current professional players (sometimes household names) - they know what they're getting for their money.

It depends on what you're after - with experience of working with the agencies you should be able to find the deal you're looking for.

[Lumsden]

The team I played for (well one of them) had an 18 yr old lad come over from Australia who paid for his own flights and everything. He just wanted to experience a summer of playing cricket in England.

[Seniorplayer]

Knew  a guy from new Zealand who wasn't paid he brought his tent pitched it on the ground had access to the club at all times did a bit of coaching earnt some money doing bar work and odd jobs when the weather was bad stayed in a flat at the club Chairmans house.

[Stuey]

Bare minimum you should expect to pay is air fare, if you can do this outside of an agent all the better, unless you're happy to pay their fees on top. Also if they are not coming on a working visa they should leave there kit at home as they may me put on the next plane back by customs.
We've had an overseas for the last 20 years of varying abilities, flights and accommodation is standard.

[Manormanic]

my club is looking to sign an overseas amateur for next season. so far i have contacted 2 agencies and both have said that most players would expect a flight thrown with their package !?!
when speaking to them i expained we would offer free digs also the opportunity of several types of jobs including coaching at our club and ground work. does a flight them take them into the professional bracket ?

Paying the flight makes it a visa issue.

Though any non EU player is a visa issue of one sort or another nowadays.

[JMB174]

we have been allowed an over seas player for quite a few years, but our club has never done this (apart from an aussie just turning up off his back, and been a top player and bloke)
but it is thought we need to move with the times. It has been a large debate on wether to use peoples own contacts or an agency.
what sort of fees do these agencies charge ?

[Northern monkey]

I don't get the whole pro thing ?
If your team needs a pro, are you not playing above your standard and expecting him to carry you?
Do you charge for entry to the ground as teams in the lancs and ribb leagues do?
And hence possibly need a 'name' to improve attendance?
I'm sorry if I'm behind the times, but I just don't get it, unless it's to generate spectator interest