Farington hosts ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy tour
Lancashire Cricket's new Farington facility has welcomed the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy tour as part of a community event organised by the Lancashire Cricket Foundation.
The iconic trophy, currently touring the country ahead of the competition, visited Farington last week as part of the Greater Manchester and Lancashire host city leg of the tour, having previously stopped at Emirates Old Trafford on Monday 25 May for Lancashire’s Vitality Blast double header.
More than 80 girls from Dynamos Cricket clubs across the local area were in attendance, given the rare opportunity to see the World Cup trophy up close and spend time with Lancashire star Kate Cross. Cross was involved throughout the day, taking part in a Q&A session and engaging directly with the young players, offering inspiration to the next generation of cricketers.
The event provided an opportunity to showcase Farington’s facilities and highlighted the role the venue will play in supporting cricket across Lancashire, from grassroots participation through to the professional game.
Developed in partnership with Lancashire County Council, Farington has been designed to bridge local grassroots cricket and elite professional competition. The venue boasts two cricket ovals: a professional oval and a community oval dedicated to recreational, youth and club cricket. The site includes outdoor practice nets, a pavilion with four changing rooms, and dedicated fitness facilities. An indoor training dome - supported by funding from Sport England and the ECB - will be developed later this year.
Jen Barden, Managing Director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said: "It is fantastic to see Farington in use and to have been able to host such a brilliant event, with plenty of opportunity for girls from local clubs in the area to meet Kate Cross and see the World Cup trophy up close.
"The Lancashire Cricket Foundation is all about engaging and inspiring people through cricket. The event we held at Farington this week has certainly gone a long way in doing that, offering a truly unique experience.
"The impact that Farington will have on the wider community is going to be enormous. We have world-class facilities at our disposal, and as we've seen this week, that opens up incredible opportunities for the Foundation and for cricket in this region.
"The benefit this will have - for Lancashire Cricket, for the Foundation, and for local communities - cannot be understated. It is a hugely exciting time."
