The next step in Irish cricket media

A call for mailbag questions + the future of The Part-Timer website

Having already done a callout on Twitter, here is a call to action for you, the email subscribers. Now that Ireland’s ‘home’ duties for the 2024 season have concluded following the recent South Africa series in the UAE, this is as good a time as any to return to some good old fashioned reader engagement.

Send me your questions for an upcoming mailbag/Q&A post. Get in touch via the comment section underneath this article, social media, email or the button below.

Questions have already been submitted. These range from Ireland’s winter plans to Josh Little’s franchise commitments to Cricket Ireland’s spending and everything in between.

I also want to hear from you on what sort of content you would like to see from this platform. This winter marks a significant step in the growth of The Part-Timer.

Unfortunately, the Irish cricket media landscape is shrinking. The Belfast Telegraph used to be the only publication with a writer travelling with Irish teams around the world. They no longer use him. For the duration of my time there, The Irish Times had a reporter at home matches and World Cups. This is no longer the case since I went freelance in a bid to work full-time in cricket. The Irish Independent uses a long-standing freelancer, but rarely does that allow for travel.

All of which is to say, traditional media outlets, which barely covered cricket anyway beyond match reports and press conference pieces, are cutting back even further. Only Cricket Europe puts out features which aren’t tied to the playing schedule. The current Irish media market is failing the cricket-interested population.

I want to change that.

This website started as a ‘part-time’ (get it?) hobby, a place to subject people to my opinions on Irish cricket. Without ever dedicating the proper time required to build, it has nonetheless grown to the point where, more often than not, more of you read my stories now than when I was working for a national newspaper.

Now that I have the time, this will become a consistent place for Irish cricket content. What that looks like is where you, the subscriber, comes in. Things have grown from occasional musings to player interviews, explainers, inside reporting and in-depth features. In the last 12 months, I’ve covered Test-capped players prematurely ending their Ireland careers, the lengthy negotiations of this year’s player contracts, Cricket Ireland’s controversial company car policy and so much more. Match coverage has recently been ramped up, including wrap-ups of the recent ODIs against South Africa.

I could simply look at the page view numbers and figure out which stuff is more widely read. But, as I will be asking for voluntary paid subscriptions, those who choose to contribute will be prioritised. Loyal readers are vital, as opposed to those who drop in and out simply because the headline was catchy or one story was more juicy than another.

This is not a paywall. I do not want to gatekeep content from those who are interested but may not be able to pay for it. An act of kindness is ultimately being asked of those who do want to pay. There are two options; a rate of €5 a month or a discounted annual rate of €50 (ignore the ‘founding member’ line, Substack insists on keeping that in). If enough people opt for paid subscriptions, the site will remain free for all.

I’m conscious that this is an email service. Quality over quantity is the approach - avoiding becoming a source of spam is crucial. The goal is to spend time on quality pieces that are worth paying for.

This won’t become a pure news site. If Ireland announce a squad, stories won’t be dropping in your inbox. That said, if a good old-fashioned scoop comes along, an exclusive, I will send that to subscribers before anyone else.

Provided that is what interests subscribers. Do you want more regular match coverage? More player interviews? More reader interaction? In the coming weeks, the above mailbag will be published. Perhaps in future, the chance to ask questions will be reserved as a paid feature.

Recently, I published a behind-the-scenes look on the decision to move on from Laura Delany as Ireland captain. An in-depth long read on why Ireland struggles to produce fast bowlers, featuring unrivalled access and insights from international players and coaches, is also on the way. There has been extensive coverage of Cricket Ireland’s corporate governance. Are these the types of pieces you want to read? Those who subscribe ultimately become my boss. Tell me what you would be willing to pay for.

I have spent three years - longer, if you include time spent playing in YMCA CC - developing connections at all levels of Irish cricket. These relationships allow for stories which you won’t hear anywhere else. Continued growth is the goal. A podcast is on the way. If this site builds sufficiently, it could well fund trips to cover Ireland abroad, providing readers with the reporting required to do justice to our sport.

If you can, please consider to upgrading from a free membership to a paid one. If you have already pledged a subscription, as a number of you have, this will now become active. Get in touch if you have changed your mind.

The world of media has changed irrevocably. More and more people are turning to niche specialist providers to satisfy their interests. Legacy media outlets are no longer the main source of information on Irish cricket. As Cricket Ireland continues to receive more money, both from taxpayers and the ICC, as they ramp up plans to invest in grassroots cricket and new stadia, all in the build-up to hosting the 2030 T20 World Cup, this is the most important time in the history of our sport on this island.

It deserves to be documented. Heart-warming stories ought to be told and power needs to be held to account. Help me to do this. Firstly, by reaching out with suggestions for what you want to see. Secondly, if you’re able, by contributing a paid subscription.

Irish cricket is never dull. Let’s tell more people about it.