AO Farington Cricket Ground officially opens following community launch event
Lancashire Cricket and Lancashire County Council officially opened AO Farington Cricket Ground earlier this month, with a community launch event bringing together stakeholders, young cricketers and project partners to celebrate the new facility.
The launch coincided with the venue's first day of live cricket on both ovals. On the professional oval, Lancashire's U16 Boys took on Yorkshire in a 50 over fixture, while over 300 girls took part in a Dynamos schools' event on the Community Oval. Lancashire players Tom Bailey and Summer Carrington were also in attendance, meeting young players and joining in the day's activities.
The launch follows AO's naming rights partnership with Lancashire Cricket - a ten-year agreement aiming to help more than 150,000 young people get into the sport over the next decade. The deal builds on AO's existing support for the club's Academy, age-group teams, and sports science and medical department.
AO Farington Cricket Ground is a dual-purpose venue featuring two cricket ovals: a professional ground hosting men's and women's competitive fixtures, and a Community Oval dedicated to grassroots, recreational and youth cricket. Delivered by the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, the venue will provide more than 750 hours of community cricket activity each year.
In addition to the two cricket ovals and an outdoor net area, the site will also feature an indoor cricket dome, alongside a pavilion between the ovals, which will be complete early next year. Lancashire Cricket would like to thank the ECB, who have contributed £1.6 million in funding to support the overall development of the ground.
Mark Chilton, Director of Cricket Performance at Lancashire Cricket, said: "We're proud and excited to see AO Farington Cricket Ground now open, and it's fantastic to see it being used so much already, with both ovals hosting cricket from day one.
"This venue is going to make a real difference for players at every level - from grassroots and community cricket, through the academy, right up to our professional squads. We're looking forward to bringing First Team fixtures here in the next couple of weeks, and to it becoming a second home for Lancashire Cricket.
"None of this would have been possible without a huge amount of work behind the scenes, so a big thank you to everyone involved in delivering the project, including Lancashire County Council, who have played an outstanding role throughout, and to the ECB and the government for their crucial support and funding."
Simon Lawrence, Director of Growth at Lancashire County Council, added: "The opening of AO Farington Cricket Ground is a major milestone for Lancashire and demonstrates what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared ambition to invest in sport, communities and opportunity.
"This outstanding facility will support participation at every level of the game, from introducing young people to cricket for the first time through to hosting professional men's and women's fixtures. It creates a lasting legacy that will benefit communities across Lancashire for many years to come.
"Alongside its sporting benefits, the venue strengthens Lancashire's reputation as a place that invests in high-quality facilities, supports healthy and active lifestyles, and provides opportunities for future generations to develop their skills, confidence and aspirations."
Bruce Cruse, ECB Director of Facilities, commented: "AO Farington Cricket Ground is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through partnership working and a shared commitment to growing the game.
"The combination of a professional-standard venue alongside dedicated community facilities creates opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved in cricket, whether that's through schools, clubs, recreational programmes or the talent pathway.
"This investment will have a lasting impact on cricket in Lancashire and supports the ECB's ambition to make cricket the most inclusive team sport in England and Wales."
Lancashire Cricket confirmed earlier this month that the ground will host four First Team fixtures in the remaining months of the 2026 campaign. Lancashire Men will play the first two matches at the venue in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, facing Kent Spitfires on Tuesday 28 July before taking on Notts Outlaws on Thursday 30 July. Lancashire Women will then play two Metro Bank One-Day Cup fixtures at Farington Cricket Ground, hosting Surrey on Thursday 3 September before welcoming Durham on Sunday 6 September.