Ireland international cricketer Graeme McCarter joins St Johnston

St Johnston Cricket Club have landed something of a coup with the recruitment of former Irish international Graeme McCarter as player-coach for the 2023 season.

McCarter was capped 12 times by Ireland and has also played English county cricket, playing 36 times for Gloucestershire.

The 30-year-old Derry man was most recently with North West side Brigade, but has agreed to join St Johnston.

“I will set the bar high,” McCarter said. “There'll be no expectations of winning the League or anything like that, but we will want to get in to competing with the big guys.

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“It is a team that has a majority of young players and we just want to try to get them to a competitive level with the big teams. It's a big challenge, but I'm excited by it.”

A meeting with Andrew Fleming of St Johnston CC convinced McCarter to link up with the Railway Road outfit.

“Andrew showed me the direction of the club and I like it,” he said. “The club hasn't often competed so it's something we really want to do. I'll be coaching in all of the club, from the underage set-up, the women's team and the seniors.”

McCarter played from 2012-2014 with Gloucestershire. In 2014, he made his One Day International debut for Ireland against Scotland before making his Twenty20 international debut the following year, also against Scotland.

McCarter spent three seasons in Australia and three in New Zealand, playing as an overseas professional.

The pace bowler, who has also played for the North West Warriors and Northern Knights, began his career with Killyclooney before being snapped up by Gloucestershire.

He has family ties to the St Johnston area. Cousins Richard and Nicky Cooke, from Legnathraw, have played with the Saints.

The 2023 North West Premiership will comprise 15 teams with the top eight making up the top flight for 2024 and the other seven forming the 2024 Championship.

“Our aim will be to be in that top eight this year,” McCarter said

St Johnston, who will be skippered by David Anthony this year, begin their League season on April 29 when they host Fox Lodge, the North West Senior Cup winners in 2022.

The club has a proud history and won the Irish Senior Cup in 1987, becoming the first North West side to take the prize.

While their underage conveyor has been producing well, they have seen the likes of Scott Macbeth and Ryan Macbeth head for Bready and Brigade. Now, McCarter wants St Johnston to establish itself as one of the North West's leading lights again.

“We're going to be building towards something here,” McCarter said. “We want to develop players and make St Johnston an attractive club to play at. We have a large area in the whole of Donegal to work with. This can be a very exciting challenge.”