Following the first of the North West's two General Meetings earlier this month it looks fair to say that the Union's office bearers are set for a busy winter.

For the past few years however I have struggled with the last box on the form which simply reads- "Don't mention rain- nobody wants to read about weather, especially bad weather."

Last Saturday saw the launch of Billy Platt’s latest book “A history of Ardmore CC from 1860-2015” and with my colleague Mr Chambers working off a few hours after his latest trip, I availed of the opportunity to go along and get a few snaps.

Because every Monday night Noel sits down with a list of 15-20 umpires that he has available at the weekend and another list of 12 or more matches he needs them to cover. So if you multiply that 12 by 2 and then try to make the answer a number between 15 and 20, well, you’ll see his dilemma.

We're on the eve of another new domestic cricket season tonight and despite the bitter cold, this is the one weekend in the whole calendar where all thoughts turn to a bright summer. It is all about momentum at the start of a new campaign and while obviously nothing will be won or lost after Saturday, trends could well be set.

We're very much into domestic pre-season mode now as preparations for the 2016 campaign should really be starting to take shape up and down the country.

Umpiring boom in the North West.

The past week was as busy a time for following cricket as any of the summer months with Ireland playing PNG, Australia playing India, New Zealand entertaining Pakistan and of course the U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.

Few things in cricket divide opinion anything like as much as people's interpretation of ìthe spirit of the gameî. The age-old ìpreambleî to the Laws covers a multitude and yet is substantially shorter than any of the 42 sub-sections that follow it.

Having come to the end of the initial 3-year phase it is as good a time as any to take stock and CricketI reland will probably now look at what they can tweak ahead of the next segment of competition.

We're well into the festive season now so I just wanted to sign off for the year with a look back at what was a hectic, if overall somewhat disappointing 2015 for followers of domestic cricket.

The North West Cricket Union will hold the first of its two General Meetings this coming week and although the (A)GM's are an integral part of every calendar year, you sense this is the most important close season for some time.

We're just about putting the final touches to this year's club reviews at the moment and while there have been a string of big performances in 2015, little doubt that the overall tone is of a slightly disappointing Premiership campaign this time around.

Last month we opened a discussion on the fact that quite a few North West clubs have been struggling in the past few seasons and looked at ways that they may be helped to survive with a keen eye on the incoming Club Licensing Scheme.

At the outset I will hold my hands up here and admit that I was a massive fan of the move and in the Premiership at least, still am. Because while the individual stats will allude to the fact that the standard of cricket definitely hasn't increased because of the new format- the competitiveness certainly has.

There are always a number of things that divide opinion in any sporting organisation and it's fair to say that there are a few in local cricket as well. Start times are a prime example, as are 8-team leagues, midweek replays, the T20 format and starring lists.

Too many competitions and dreadful weather putting strain on Ulster cricket.

The youngsters hoping to make an impact in the NW; Stephen Smyth puts the nail in the size 9 boots; Craig Young takes 8 wickets on trial and looks destined to be offered county contract.

I suspect the developments of the past few days will have come as little surprise to many as Phil Simmons takes his leave of Irish cricket to start a new life as Head Coach of his native West Indies.

Players, backroom team and supporters will have had time to take stock after Ireland's brilliant start to WC2015 and no doubt there will be plenty of food for thought ahead of Tuesday's huge test against South Africa.

A look ahead to the World Cup, Bap Beechgrove bound, and the new club licensing scheme.

Given that it's a fairly lean time of the year in terms of actual cricket news, CricketEurope's in-house betting guru has been casting an eye over the forthcoming punting opportunities to see if we can find a way of helping with those festive costs.

It hasn't always been the case on the North West cricket scene but 2014 will probably go down as a reasonably uneventful season, something that will no doubt have pleased the new generation of leadership in the region.

If ever anything proved the existence of the ìcricket familyî it has been the fall-out from the death of Australian batsman Philip Hughes.

Johnny Thompson's move to CIYMS will hit not only Brigade but also the NW Warriors.

The dust has settled now on another fascinating domestic cricket season and there are plenty around the North West who will be glad of the chance to draw breath.

The announcement that Cricket Ireland have secured a decade-long cash injection into their Academy is fantastic news for everyone involved in the sport in this country.

There's an old proverb that says that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

A look at how the dreaded R word looks to overshadow the end of the season, Newbuildings on course for Senior cricket, and congratulations to all the trophy winners.

Sion Mills hold 150th celebrations, U13 inter-pro confusion and another senior final for the McBrines.

Things have certainly been a little less traumatic after Bready and Donemana both survived to the semi finals to level it up numerically.

A defence of NW cricket and their strategy after another defeat for the Warriors, launch of T20, and wedding day congratulations for Jason Milligan.

Sat navs, Championship hundred for Porterfield, Burndennett Seconds folding - an eventful time in NW and Irish cricket.

A look ahead to an intriguing NW season, credit to the Warriors Academy, and a tribute to the outstanding Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh.

There could well be a major restructuring of the Ulster Cup after the loss of sponsors Clubturf.

The latest player gossip, T20 revamp, plans for a Warriors under-age launch and a tribute to Eric Cooke.

Is it just me or is the trend of batting first currently reaping massive rewards for teams at all levels?

Things have been eerily quiet on the transfer front so far with clubs playing their cards very close to their chest.

My second development article looks at the plans to provide infrastructural support for the Warriors, including an Academy for an "emerging" squad.

The first of two features on the work that is ongoing in the North West at present.

The real work looks set to start off the field because, despite its success, this season has provided as many questions as answers.

In the past couple of seasons we have lost far too many good umpires.

North West Warriors have just one match left in this interpro season and perhaps now is a good time to take stock of the lessons learned.

The interprovincials resume; T20 day at Bready is approaching; night of nostalgia; the 2013 North West Cricket Annual.

I'm not sure the rose tinted glasses make me the ideal candidate to discuss the whole scenario however for what its worth I have my own thoughts on things as they stand.

With a few more performances like the one against the Knights a first victory might not be that far away for the North West Warriors.

A really good start to the North West season and there looks set to be little between the top four or five in both divisions.

Richie Kelly's recent article on the demise of City of Derry got me thinking.

Another month in which there has been no shortage of talking points in the North West and still plenty of unfinished business as well.

The recent comings and goings among the playing fraternity have been shaded by the unfortunate situation at Limavady.

There has been no shortage of activity in North West cricket circles of late as clubs prepare for the onset of 8-team senior leagues this summer.

Although there has hardly been a flurry of transfer movement to date it is fair to say that the moves that have happened could well prove pivotal in the coming summer.

Confirmation from Niall McDonnell that he has joined Coleraine; Cricket Ireland's draft Inter-Provincial document has been sent to the Leinster, NCU and North West Unions.

Despite a new spate of North West-bashing in certain quarters the North West had plenty to celebrate at the Cricket Ireland presentations.

The North West is on the move again as Joe Doherty rings the changes.

We're into the presentation season now and thanks to the hard work of David Doey and Trevor Harpur all the information is to hand to work out where their individual trophies are going this season.

The match at Burndennett on Saturday has been done to death already but there are a few asides that I feel are worthy of a mention both from the weekend and indeed the season as a whole.

You'll be reading plenty about it over the next couple of days but I would like to start this week by extending congratulations to Donemana Cricket Club not just on their title win, but on a superb season overall.

Killyclooney were officially relegated at the weekend having failed to win a single league game all season but having watched them at St Johnston on Sunday I have no idea how they haven't picked up any points.

Every time the hard-working ground staff cleared up a problematic area, the Ireland and Scotland women's teams found another one. What a pity the beleaguered Bready ground staff were put through the most pointless of exercises.

There's a huge week of cricket upcoming with Division 1 action but the focus of attention all week will be on the international front with competition at three different venues.

And so the Inter-Provincial cup competitions are over for another year (the Bob Kerr final notwithstanding, obviously) and all in all a decent showing from the North West contingent against their counterparts.

Now that the dust has settled on the Northern Bank senior cup final it is as good a time as any to take stock on the show-piece in light of Bready's first attempt at hosting it.

It's senior cup final weekend and the great and good will travel to Magheramason as Bready roll out the red carpet for the very first time in this competition.

There have been plenty of changes introduced into North West cricket this season, many of them have worked out really well while others maybe haven't been wholly successful and may need tweaked over the winter.

Parents having to fork out for their children to play international cricket, prize money for domestic competitions and bad light at Bready.

A few weeks ago I extolled the virtue of our Senior Cup competition and I have no doubt some of our friends in the NCU will this week be pointing to the example set by the North West in that regard.

It has been a long hard road for the North West Think Tank but the fruits of labour are definitely beginning to seed.

The two day decider is what sets the North West's Senior Cup competition apart from the others.

England are bound for Dublin but at least we have the pigeons. There has been a damning silence from Cricket Ireland in relation to what will, to be brutally honest, feel like a snub to many in the North West.

Ireland, England and the City of Culture Dilemma: the idea of marking the event in a cricket capacity has been on the table for a number of months now but little seems to have progressed in that time.

When Stuart Thompson stepped out for Limavady on Saturday it was the all-rounder's first appearance since being presented with the platform to let the people at Somerset see what he had to offer.

It isn't difficult to be positive and upbeat about a lot of things going on in Irish cricket and Unions now having their own Coaching and Development Officers certainly falls into that bracket.

The fruits of labour in the North West are starting to seed but patience is still required.