Unhappy bunny

[terry2366]

its not cricket today went to watch the cricket at the pia Bella but one of the teams not only failed to turn up but did not even phone to say they would not be coming. Not what is expected of the British Army at all, the POW regt let a lot of people down today and showed bad form.

[PoshinDevon]

As ex Army I am also very dissapointed.....no excuse for not even calling or making contact. Maybe worthwhile following up with the Commanding Officer.....just to emphasise how much they let everyone down. If the tone of the letter is right it should hit home and you should get a reply. There could be good reason but I cannot think of one.

Mind you they are infantry! Wouldnot have happened if it had been a technical arm!!

(That is a joke.....for those who may not get it)

[terry2366]

Would not have happened in the cavalry either there should be a few extras after this.

[Ragged Robin]

I just hope this regrettable "incident" will not put off either the players, who play with such enthusiasm and true old fashioned sportsman ship, nor those who put who much effort into arranging the matches and their supporters.

I have attended three of the fixtures this year, although not staying long, and thoroughly enjoyed them, very nostalgic like watching in my childhood. I understand they will be taking a break and starting again in September. I look forward to it, and wish them the very best for the next season

[Kanonier]

Would not have happened in the cavalry either there should be a few extras after this.

Nor the Gunners!

[terry2366]

Did not know arsenal played cricket as well??

[terry2366]

They always managed an appearance before the Jacks and Crabs woke up matey.

[tomsteel]

In an attempt to get the thread back on track. Does anybody have contact details for the errant team? I will, happily, make contact and ascertain what happened. Having spent over 45 years serving the Crown, I do not understand a ' now show, no contact' from a military organisation, whatever it's colour.

[PoshinDevon]

In an attempt to get the thread back on track. Does anybody have contact details for the errant team? I will, happily, make contact and ascertain what happened. Having spent over 45 years serving the Crown, I do not understand a ' now show, no contact' from a military organisation, whatever it's colour.

Try

The Commanding Officer
2PWRR
Dhekelia
BFPO 58

The tel number for British Forces Post Office is 00357 2474 4577. They should be able to confirm address and possibly tel number of the unit.

Of course those organising the event may have something and already made contact....if they have not then they should.

[Kanonier]

Did not know arsenal played cricket as well??

Of course - "UBIQUE", dontcha know?

[Bowman]

Yes we had a number of phone numbers but none were being answered on Sunday.

Members of the UN team had spoken to the British team on Thursday/Friday and reported that they were still planning to travel north for the Sunday matches.

Talking later to a member of the Cyprus Cricket Association, I was told that the Military team have a reputation for match no-shows.

Still I hope all the spectators had a good day out.

During the coming week I will sort the 900+ pictures and post some of them on the TRNC CC website.

Website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/turkishre ... icketclub/

Mike Turner

[tomsteel]

Bowman, do you a have name and number please? Also the name and number of the UN team contact. I have spoken to the guy within HQ BFC who clears all sport on and off island and he confirms no permission had been sought for any team to travel to the TRNC. He is, currently, in UK but will investigate if he has more details.

[Bowman]

Hi Tom,

Currently I have no contact information, the Cyprus Cricket Association had arranged for three teams to travel from the south.

The teams were:
The Fellows (Limassol)
PWRR (Dhekelia)
Nicosia (Mixed team of UN & High Commission)

I will try to get contact data and PM you with the information.

One of the UN team I spoke to was from the Black Watch

Regards Mike T

[tomsteel]

OK, the situation thus far. Whilst I have not spoken with anybody from the unit (not POW Regt as reported in post 1), I have spoken with the individual working within HQ BFC who is responsible for political clearance for all sport involving leaving the theatre involved, in this case Cyprus. Ex-Service readers will be aware there is a system in place to secure authority to enter into another country for either military activity, adventurous training or sport. No request for the unit to visit here was received, ergo - no authority was sought from the DA and no permission to enter the TRNC to play cricket was given. Therefore, this was not a NO SHOW. The unit concerned did NOT HAVE PERMISSION. UN-controlled personnel of whatever nationality operate under a totally different system. I hope this helps to clear any misunderstanding, bad feeling or disappointment.

[terry2366]

Thanks Tom I apologise but that was the regt I was informed had not turned up. So you are saying although it was arranged and expected for them to play the regt were not informed and had not agreed to play?. Also the remarks from one poster about them not showing often was untrue?

[tomsteel]

Sorry Terry, I do not have answers to your questions as I am unaware of the details surrounding who did what, when, where etc. I was trying to find out why the team did not show. I went, therefore, to the man I know from my own background who would have approved the trip. His response has been shown as a previous post. The Cyprus Cricket Association may well have invited this unit, but the military system demands ALL units to secure approval to enter another country for whatever reason. There is the question of 'duty status'. It is, sadly, not a simple subject and particularly so here.

[PoshinDevon]

From what I can see from the posts it appears to me that the unit in question was 2 Princess of Wales Royal Regiment based in Dhekelia. If the unit were officially invited and acknowledged the invite then it is they who must then put the necessary paperwork in place to request official permission to cross into the TRNC to play in the cricket tournament. If they did officially ask permission but were refused, possibly for good reason then a quick call to the organisers would have been the correct course of action. They would not need to explain why. So it is still dissapointing in my opinion.

[karmels]

Posh, the days of having to get permission to go north is long gone. I play golf against three Military clubs in the South.

[tomsteel]

Sorry Karmels, those days are here, as confirmed by HQ BFC. Off duty is, off course, a different thing.

[karmels]

tomsteel.
Why should they be on duty at the weekend, that is when we play them at golf and go to the South to play them at home.
Non of the teams have ever had to seek permission. Maybe if it is just a regimental team they need permission from their CO.

[tomsteel]

Karmels - I do not make the rules. I can give you the contact details for the guy who has to implement/obey MOD/FCO rules on this subject and you can ask him direct. If military personnel are 'off duty' they have no claim to compensation if killed/injured etc either in travel or the activity itself. Formal clearance places them on duty with the legal protection that status offers. If you want his details, please PM me and I'll happily provide them.

[PoshinDevon]

Karmels - I do not make the rules. I can give you the contact details for the guy who has to implement/obey MOD/FCO rules on this subject and you can ask him direct. If military personnel are 'off duty' they have no claim to compensation if killed/injured etc either in travel or the activity itself. Formal clearance places them on duty with the legal protection that status offers. If you want his details, please PM me and I'll happily provide them.

This is indeed correct. I have experience of this when we took some part time soldiers out for the evening for some ice skating....it had to be classed as a formal on duty activity.....so they would be covered in case of accidents. Good job.....one of them broke a leg on the ice skating rink! If we had not classed it as a formal on duty activity there would be all sorts of problems.....especially as this was a part time soldier who had a civilian job which of course he was unable to do whilst his broken leg healed.

However the point is not really whether they had put in an official request and had been cleared to take part in the tournament....its more for me as to why they did not adbise in advance they were unable to attend....common courtesy should have prevailed.

[tomsteel]

Indeed, but we're only getting one version of what happened, the background and it's third or fourth hand at best. This topic is going nowhere in my opinion.

[Bowman]

The information posted by myself is not third or fourth hand.
I’m a member of the TRNC CA committee and if not at a committee meeting I receive, and read, the minutes. Also I was at the Pia Bell from 07:30 till 21:00 on Sunday.
A team from PWRR had agreed with the Secretary of the Cyprus Cricket Association to play on Sunday.
On Thursday or Friday the captain of the UN team spoke to a member of the PWRR team who confirmed that they would be at Pia Bella on Sunday.
All the talk of getting permission is irrelevant. The fact is that the team did not turn up and did not let the organisation know why.
As I have stated in a former posting this team has a reputation (stated to me by an official of the Cyprus Cricket Association) for not turning up for matches even when home matches.

[karmels]

tomsteel.
I am an ex Warrant officer, from HM, forces having served as the CWO for HQ UN Forces Nicosia for three years, I do know Queens regs. What is being imposed is a regimental Matter, the Pumas have played rugby we play golf and have had no problems and I have been playing golf against the UN since before the border opened. Each Regiment that comes to Cyprus invents rules for their troops to protect the Regimental name. This is the last post for me on this matter, hope the cricket game goes ahead.