Trafalgar Road will host Red Rose games
LANCASHIRE’S second team will play two four-day games at Trafalgar Road this summer and there are hopes that first-class cricket will return to Southport in 2022.
The news will come as something of a fillip to cricket lovers in the town but it also reflects the hard work of S&B groundsman, Colin Maxwell, who has spent countless hours restoring the square to its former high standard.
Maxwell met Matt Merchant, his counterpart at Emirates Old Trafford, last week and the pair discussed what preparations would be required ahead of the visit of Nottinghamshire in July and Durham in September.
Also present at the meeting were Paul Allott, Lancashire’s director of cricket, and Andrew Carney, chairman of S&BCC. It was also agreed that Trafalgar Road would also host a Lancashire Academy fixture in April in addition to other age-group games this summer.
The second team and Academy matches are classified as elite sport and should therefore be unaffected by the Covid-19 restrictions currently in force. However, it may need some relaxation of those restrictions for spectators to be allowed to watch the games and an announcement will be made as soon as the situation becomes clearer.
For the moment, though, S&B officials can be happy with the cordial relationship their Club currently has with Lancashire although a great deal remains to be done before County Championship cricket is played on their ground again.
“I was very keen for Matt to meet Colin and for them to have a detailed discussion about the square at Trafalgar Road,” said Carney. “I think we can see a clear path for the return of first-class cricket to Southport but Lancashire need to make sure that our facilities are up to standard.
“Matt wanted Colin to lead the preparations for the second team games but Matt would be on hand if required. They want to use the main county wicket for the first game and the second wicket for the match against Durham.
“It was agreed that the second pitch was relatively young and would need nursing over the summer. So we will have the first county pitch in reserve if it is needed in September.”