Lancashire County Cricket Club are looking forward to playing Hampshire in Southport, in what is going to be “the best show in town”.
The match is taking place at Southport and Birkdale Sports Club on Trafalgar Road in Southport from this Sunday (11th June 2023) to Wednesday (14th June 2023).
Visitors can enjoy four days of top class cricket in top quality surroundings with great food and drink available.
The weather forecast is looking exceptionally good, with four days of sunshine forecast.
Tickets are available online at: cricket.lancashire.co.uk with people also able to pay on the gate.
S&B Cricket Club Chairman Andrew Carney said: “We are really looking forward to making this County Cricket match between Lancashire and Hampshire the best show in town.
“What we are doing is not rocket science. When you have a superb venue like S&B, great food and drink from D’Vine Catering and great entertainment, then it is going to go well.
“Seeing Lancashire County Cricket Club play at S&B is a real spectacle. We are looking forward to four days of professional cricket with some of the best pro players in the country.
“People can come down, sit back, relax, and feel part of something really special happening.
“If they’d like to, they can then stay around, get a few autographs and pictures, and stay and enjoy a few drinks.”
Seeing Lancashire return to Trafalgar Road is a great vote of confidence in what is being achieved at the club.
Andrew Carney said: “Lancashire coming to play at S&B signifies that this is a first class out-ground. Whenever they have other events taking place at Old Trafford, we want them to bear S&B in mind when they are planning their County fixtures.
“We are conscious that we are competing with other grounds, but we want to make sure that we can offer the best out-ground in the county.
“We have developed a superb relationship with Lancashire. Last year they kindly provided us with £40,000 of ground machinery so they clearly appreciate what we can offer.
“Lancashire County Cricket Club CEO Daniel Gidney has been extremely supportive towards us, and we are very appreciative of that.
“If we can match last year’s attendance of 4,000 people over the four days, then we will be delighted.
“There are still tickets available. The ground limit is 2,300 people, with tickets available from cricket.lancashire.co.uk
“All S&B members in possession of an up-to-date membership card will be allowed into all four days.
“People will also be able to pay on the door while tickets are still available.
“The cost is £15 for adults, free after 4pm, £10 for pensioners, £8 for children. It is fantastic value.
“There is lots of parking available nearby on Birkdale Common, with £5 for members and £10 for non-members, while we are also well served by public transport.
“There is parking available for Blue Badge holders. We have a disability area here with good disability toilet facilities available.
“The pitch and the facilities are in excellent condition. What has made a difference to us this year has been setting up ‘The Artisans’, a team of volunteers who have been supporting our Head Groundsman Colin Maxwell.
“These guys have been doing everything from fixing doors to painting walls and everything in between, allowing Colin more time to focus on his core role of maintaining the cricket pitch and the tennis courts to the best condition possible.
“It is an idea which we have borrowed from golf but is working here really well.”
Bringing County Cricket to S&B is only part of what is happening this year.
Andrew Carney said: “We have got a fabulous recreational sports club. We have a real passion about constantly improving it and making it better for members and visitors.
“This year the club has had the best figures in its history and we are continuing to grow.
“We are re-investing that into the club with facilities such as new practice nets.
“We also have a new foyer, improved WiFi, and we have drawn up a shopping list of other things we want to deliver over the next 24 months.
“We are looking at new furniture for the clubhouse, we are looking at car parking, we are looking at various ways of reinvesting in the club and giving something back to our members.
“It is a continuing improvement cycle.
“We are growing our junior section, we are growing our women’s section.
“We are seeing a 40% uplift in activity at S&B through cricket, through tennis, and through more and more events.
“We are very much heading in the right direction, all the signs are very encouraging.
“We want to make S&B one of the best sports clubs in the country.
“There are some fantastic fixtures coming up. After the Lancashire County Cricket match this weekend, we are excited to be hosting top-level ladies cricket at S&B on 7th July, when Thunder host Southern Vipers in a Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match.
“That will be followed by England versus Australia’s Over 60s teams on 19th July.
“Then we are looking forward to hosting our S&Beer Fest in August.
“These are very exciting times for the club.”
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