Topic: Getting paid to play? (Read 4660 times)

ianbuchanan · « **Reply #15 on:** December 23, 2011, 10:24:25 AM »

A lot of paid players in our league, does my head in when they are outscored every week by other 'Average Joe's'... If someone offered me money (and expenses) I would play!

uknsaunders · « **Reply #16 on:** December 23, 2011, 10:26:54 AM »

�75 for playing sport - I'd take it in a second. That said, at our club my daughter commands a bigger fee for her scoring lol - �30 a game she was offered by a rival club! As for perceived pressure, that's (No Swearing Please). If you are a decent bat then you bat under pressure all the time ie. weight of runs expected/contribution to the team. If you have a bad trot you still get paid don't you? Worst they can do is fire you lol . Likewise, club dynamics aren't your problem just go out and enjoy it.

If you are loaded then you can afford to turn down fair enough, but �75 a week buys you a fair number of bats (or wife bribes to play cricket)

no1northernbloke · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2011, 10:44:15 AM »

Quote from: uknsaunders on December 23, 2011, 10:26:54 AM

If you are a decent bat then you bat under pressure all the time ie. weight of runs expected/contribution to the team. Likewise, club dynamics aren't your problem just go out and enjoy it.

Not sure I agree. I bat 4, and score around 600 - 700 league runs a season - and I don't feel under any pressure to perform as I've played for the same club all my life. If I moved clubs, was playing in a higher standard and someone was going to pay me then I'd feel under more pressure to deliver. For example the next step up for me would be County 2's - if selected would I feel as comfortable as I do at my club - absolutely not!

Club dynamics aren't important only if you're completely mercenary - I'd sooner play in a club that everyone wants to be in

uknsaunders · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2011, 11:11:16 AM »

that's fair enough. I played for clubs where I know I have to score runs for us to win on a regular basis, clubs I have played for all my life. That's still pressure, even if it's a low level.

Point I'm making in general is until you play at another club how do you know if you are going to enjoy it? I played at one club for 20 odd years, and have enjoyed it less (in hindsight) than my 3 years in West Sussex and my last 3 seasons in Yorkshire. People always stick with what they know rather than get out of their comfort zone. Do you really have much to lose?

no1northernbloke · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2011, 11:24:11 AM »

Quote from: uknsaunders on December 23, 2011, 11:11:16 AM

that's fair enough. I played for clubs where I know I have to score runs for us to win on a regular basis, clubs I have played for all my life. That's still pressure, even if it's a low level.

Fair comment, I personally just take the view now that I'll score roughly that amount of runs a year, so I'll have a run of good scores and a run of not so good.

I'm actually thinking of moving clubs this year, it'll be a big wrench after so long, and I agree that you don't know how good something else is going to be unless you give it a try...

Manormanic · « **Reply #20 on:** December 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM »

Another question here is how old the OP is. At 19, I fancied myself a wicketkeeper/bat playing Lancashire Leagues cricket - I'd floated around county colts, played a decent standard in Yorkshire, then got stuck in our twos because some bright spark insisted on hiring Mark Boucher as the overseas player, and I would have bitten someone's hand off all the way up to the elbow to be guaranteed regular 1s cricket, money or no.

Seven knee ops, a ruptured achilles and too much beer later, I love bring the old fashioned club stalwart, play where I'm put and, for all the small scale pressure (mostly someone wanting to beat my runs totals) I love the place to bits and really could not imagine playing anywhere else; this was brought home to me when my other half was ill last year and everyone - even the colts, wives and occasional girlfriends - rallied round.

Point is, priorities change, things that seemed very important to me at 19 seem trivial now. That has to be a personal decision.

petehosk · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2011, 12:54:23 PM »

I would say that you must feel great and very flattered to be asked to play for both decent teams, and the fact that one of the teams has offered you money must make you feel special. That's totally understandable!
But you don't owe them anything and they will find players to play for money whether it's you or someone else!

If I were in your (obviously gifted) shoes, I would think about what you would have to give up at your club in order to play for the this other team? Maybe see if you can go along to their AGM at the pub or a pre-season net so that you can meet the other players and judge whether you think you'd enjoy their company? If this team really want you enough to pay you, then they should give you lots of time to make your decision!!
If you did leave your current club to play elsewhere, then realised you had made a mistake....then your current club may still have you back, but would the relationship ever be the same again?

Your choice but I realy would look into it first, as cricket is first and foremost our passion and should therefore be enjoyable! whatever you decide, hope it goes well for you!

longy0710 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2011, 02:15:43 PM »

The team that hav offered me cash played in our league last season so I know most of the guys. They have all seem to become Billy big times as they are being bank rolled.

Looking at it I'm not keen on the people, the pitch ain't great for batting and it seems there is no money going into the pitch so I think I'll stay put and net with the other premier league team.

Thanks for the advice guys. The money would be great but I need to enjoy it or it's just another day at work.

Martyn

gdb19 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2011, 04:19:15 PM »

Quote from: Manormanic on December 23, 2011, 12:24:05 PM

Another question here is how old the OP is. At 19, I fancied myself a wicketkeeper/bat playing Lancashire League cricket - I'd floated around county colts, played a decent standard in Yorkshire, then got stuck in our twos because some bright spark insisted on hiring Mark Boucher as the overseas player, and I would have bitten someone's hand off all the way up to the elbow to be guaranteed regular 1s cricket, money or no.

Seven knee ops, a ruptured achilles and too much beer later, I love bring the old fashioned club stalwart, play where I'm put and, for all the small scale pressure (mostly someone wanting to beat my runs totals) I love the place to bits and really could not imagine playing anywhere else; this was brought home to me when my other half was ill last year and everyone - even the colts, wives and occasional girlfriends - rallied round.

Point is, priorities change, things that seemed very important to me at 19 seem trivial now. That has to be a personal decision.

Sounds like you're about the same age as me from your village moment post manormaniac.

Who did you play for in the lancs league? I used to play in that junior league for Darwen until about 15 and played for the lancs league u15's.

As for the main question on getting paid to play, if you are good enough and don't mind potentially playing for a team that you have little connection with go for it.

Personally I never liked the concept of paying for anyone other than one full time pro, it always just seemed wrong to me in an amateur sport. I'd rather clubs spent their money developing good juniors.

Author Topic: Getting paid to play? (Read 4660 times)

ianbuchanan

Re: Getting paid to play?

uknsaunders

Re: Getting paid to play?

no1northernbloke

Re: Getting paid to play?

uknsaunders

Re: Getting paid to play?

no1northernbloke

Re: Getting paid to play?

Manormanic

Re: Getting paid to play?

petehosk

Re: Getting paid to play?

longy0710

Re: Getting paid to play?

gdb19

Re: Getting paid to play?