By

Norman Freeman

One player had to be told the bad news. He would no longer be on the panel.  There were thirty-one and the powers-that-be at the senior hurling club insisted on no more than thirty.

The manager had the difficult job. He wasn't going to find it easy because he was on warm terms with all the players. He knew how deflating it could be to a player, even an unskilled player, to be told he was surplus to requirements.

There was actually one fellow who was the obvious choice. All the other players liked him but he was one of those misfortunates whose co-ordination was poor. He tried hard but his first touch was abysmal.  And he often hit the sliotar with the curve of the bas and the ball tailed weakly off to the right.

The mystery was that this guy, Aidan by name, was one of the best organised persons in the club. He was never late for training, he kept his gear in perfect condition, and he kept a sensible balance between hurling and his studies in business management. The other players used say 'He always has everything right except when it comes to hurley and ball.'

The manager, Jack O'F, went and discussed the problem with the committee. Then he had a quiet word with Aidan. After training he called the players together into the clubhouse.

'Look lads, we all know that things in this club are not all that well organised and we need to do something about it.'  All the players knew what he was talking about. Not once but several times the bus taking them to matches was late arriving. On another occasion it came to a halt in a lonesome place because it ran out of petrol. Then someone forget to book the team into a hotel for a meal and after a hard match they found themselves standing in the rain outside a take-away. The guy in charge of the hurleys often got them mixed up and fellows found themselves playing with someone else's hurley in the heat of a match. 

'We need someone who is able to manage things for the team, buses, meals, hotels, hurleys. Someone who lets every player know what's happening, that text messages go to the right person in the right place at the right time.  For that reason I've asked Aidan here to take over as Team Organiser and he's agreed to do it.'

This got a spontaneous round of clapping.  Afterwards many of the players shook his hand.  One fellow said:  'Jasus I won't be worrying about being given the wrong time for the bus and having to take a lift from Mrs You-Know-Who that is looking for a certain favour in return,' and he winked knowingly.  

Another fellow said: 'Aidan I'm glad you're taking over. It was pure carelessness that my good suit was stolen the last time we were booked into that kip of a hotel.'

And of course everyone was full of praise for the manager, for his kindly attitude and also for his astuteness. 'Oh, he handled that very well,' they said. 

Of course Aidan excelled in his role as Team Organiser and everybody in the club was delighted with his efficiency and diligence. He was asked to take over the fund-raising drive and made a great success of it.