Latest news with #BrianMacNeice
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Stormont in line for £1million funding boost to bring World Cup cricket to Belfast
The Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association (NICSSA) site will undergo significant changes as part of Phase 1 of a longer-term master plan aimed at redeveloping the site's sporting, health, and wellbeing facilities. The intention is to erect permanent seating at the ground, as well as broadcast facilities, which would allow top-level matches to be played there in five years' time, with Ireland already confirmed as co-hosts of the tournament alongside England, Wales and Scotland. Stormont has been the host of significant games down the years, including Ireland's victory over Zimbabwe last July. 'The NICSSA Sports Precinct is a fundamentally important venue for Irish cricket – it not only features one of our leading international grounds but provides crucial space for community and domestic representative cricket to take place,' commented Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice. "The Stormont Cricket Ground holds a great fondness for Irish fans for the many international matches it has held over the years – most notably the Test Match last year against Zimbabwe. 'Numerous reports over the years have highlighted that there is a lack of quality training and playing facilities on the island of Ireland. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major in-roads into resolving these issues. 'The proposed redevelopment of the NICSSA facilities is a project that the Board is fully supportive of, and it has unanimously approved a £1 million strategic investment in Phase 1 of the development. 'If you consider this project, the new Stadium at Abbottstown and our direct support for facilities upgrade proposals at Bready and Malahide, we are demonstrating our resolve to tackle the facilities and infrastructure deficits in a substantial manner.' Also agreed at the board meeting was the creation of five new hybrid pitches, three that will be at Stormont and two in Lisburn, as well as high-quality indoor and outdoor training spaces for all levels of cricket.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Stormont cricket ground could stage T20 World Cup matches after £1million funding boost
The Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association (NICSSA) site will undergo significant changes as part of Phase 1 of a longer-term master plan aimed at redeveloping the site's sporting, health, and wellbeing facilities. The intention is to erect permanent seating at the ground, as well as broadcast facilities, which would allow top-level matches to be played there in five years' time, with Ireland already confirmed as co-hosts of the tournament alongside England, Wales and Scotland. Stormont has been the host of significant games down the years, including Ireland's victory over Zimbabwe last July. 'The NICSSA Sports Precinct is a fundamentally important venue for Irish cricket – it not only features one of our leading international grounds but provides crucial space for community and domestic representative cricket to take place,' commented Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice. "The Stormont Cricket Ground holds a great fondness for Irish fans for the many international matches it has held over the years – most notably the Test Match last year against Zimbabwe. 'Numerous reports over the years have highlighted that there is a lack of quality training and playing facilities on the island of Ireland. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major in-roads into resolving these issues. 'The proposed redevelopment of the NICSSA facilities is a project that the Board is fully supportive of, and it has unanimously approved a £1 million strategic investment in Phase 1 of the development. 'If you consider this project, the new Stadium at Abbottstown and our direct support for facilities upgrade proposals at Bready and Malahide, we are demonstrating our resolve to tackle the facilities and infrastructure deficits in a substantial manner.' Also agreed at the board meeting was the creation of five new hybrid pitches, three that will be at Stormont and two in Lisburn, as well as high-quality indoor and outdoor training spaces for all levels of cricket. Additional spending has also been set aside to support men's cricket after the European T20 Premier League was deferred to 2026.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stormont upgrade could deliver T20 World Cup matches
Cricket Ireland have confirmed a £1m investment to the Northern Ireland Civil Service Sports Association site in Belfast with the hope that the upgrades could deliver matches during the 2030 T20 World package is part of a joint venture that will help deliver phase one of the NICSSA's Future Master Plan with the hope to transform the Stormont venue into a fit-for-purpose ground with permanent infrastructure including seating and broadcast beat Zimbabwe in the first Test to be staged at Stormont in July. "The NICSSA Sports Precinct is a fundamentally important venue for Irish cricket, it not only features one of our leading international grounds but provides crucial space for community and domestic representative cricket to take place," said Brian MacNeice, Chair of Cricket Ireland."The Stormont Cricket Ground holds a great fondness for Irish fans for the many international matches it has held over the years – most notably the Test match last year against Zimbabwe."Numerous reports over the years have highlighted that there is a lack of quality training and playing facilities on the island of Ireland. We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make major in-roads into resolving these issues."Also planned are five new hybrid pitches - three at Stormont and two in Lisburn - with high-quality indoor and outdoor training spaces to help broaden widen cricket participation numbers, while also providing training and match facilities for international and domestic cricket. The plans sit alongside the Cricket in Ireland Strategic Plan 2024–2027 and the Cricket Ireland Facilities Strategy, with additional expenditure pledged to support men's cricket this season in order to offset the European T20 Premier League's deferral to 2026."If you consider this project, the new stadium at Abbottstown and our direct support for facilities upgrade proposals at Bready and Malahide, we are demonstrating our resolve to tackle the facilities and infrastructure deficits in a substantial manner," added MacNeice.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Deutrom to step down as Cricket Ireland CEO
Cricket Ireland has confirmed Warren Deutrom will step down as chief executive at the end of August after 19 years in the role. During the Englishman's time at the helm, Ireland were granted Test status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in recently, planning was lodged for a new 4,000-seater cricket stadium in Dublin to be built in time for Ireland co-hosting the 2030 T20 World Cup. With 30 years experience in cricket administration, Deutrom has previously worked for the ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). "It's hard to explain my feelings since making this decision – the role of Cricket Ireland CEO has covered more than a third of my life and two-thirds of my professional career," said Deutrom. "It has felt more like a vocation and a true labour of love than a mere job." Deutrom added that Ireland being awarded Test status is "the most significant achievement I'll look back on with pride". He added: "While the absolute highlights of the role are too numerous to mention, the most powerful memories I'll take with me are of our Irish cricket family – the good people, the kind people, the mentors, the taskmasters, the wonderful colleagues, and the countless friends I am privileged to have made along the way."Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice praised Deutrom's "skill, dedication, enthusiasm and selflessness". "He ends his tenure with not only a list of achievements, but several substantial projects in development – such as the stadium and co-hosting of the T20 World Cup - that suggest a bright future for Irish cricket. "On behalf of the Board and staff of Cricket Ireland, I thank Warren for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the role of CEO – and I wish Warren and his family all the best in the future."Cricket Ireland said it will begin a "comprehensive and thorough" recruitment process to select Deutrom's successor.
