Lancs to host the champs
CRICKET fans in Southport will have the opportunity of seeing the best side in the country in action next summer when the Specsavers County Champions, Middlesex, visit the town for a four-day Division One game against Lancashire beginning on June 9.
The release of the 2017 first-class fixture-list last week brought joy to members at Southport and Birkdale who had been hoping for a chance to repeat the tremendous success they enjoyed when Durham played at Trafalgar Road last July.
However, the news that spectators will have the chance to watch the champions exceeded the hopes of S&B’s chairman, Tony Elwood.
“Short of the Roses match, Lancashire -v- the County Champions is as good as it gets,” he said. “So, on reflection, I’m even more pleased with the fixture than I was initially.
“The scheduling suits us too, with a Friday start which should prove attractive to the corporate market - we have had a number of enquiries already whilst the Saturday and Sunday should again be popular for the regular cricket fans who turned out in droves this year.
“We will be announcing our ticketing and hospitality arrangements very soon, but I would advise anyone intending to come to the game to register their interest early.”
Elwood’s advice is wise, especially given the popularity of the 2016 County match when over seven and a half thousand spectators piled into Trafalgar Road.
The facilities for that match were praised by all involved and the photograph of England’s Ben Stokes playing cricket with a couple of S&B’s youngsters in the aftermath of Durham’s two-wicket victory was widely shown on websites.