State of the art new cricket dome opens in Darwen

A new cricket ‘dome’ has opened in Darwen allowing players to pursue the sport in all weathers.

The state-of-the-art indoor facility is only the second of its kind in the whole country.

It is at Darwen Cricket Club and is designed to host cricket all year round, regardless of weather conditions

Known affectionately as the ‘Darwen Dome,’ it features three full-length lanes and can also be used for match play, transforming into a flexible space for coaching, matches, and community events.

The Darwen Cricket Centre development is part of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) drive to expand access to the sport to more young people from all backgrounds, with a particular focus on revitalising the game in state schools.

It follows the successful 2023 opening of a pilot cricket dome in Bradford and precedes the proposed £1.5million roll out of two more in Luton and Farington near Preston next year.

ECB chair Richard Thompson said: “This is a game-changer for state school cricket in the North-West.

“We want every child, regardless of where they go to school, to have the opportunity to fall in love with cricket.

“This dome, and the partnership between the club, Lancashire Cricket Foundation and 13 local schools, is a powerful step towards levelling the playing field and will become a real community asset.”

Chris Lowe, chair of Darwen Cricket Club, said: “It’s a unique and exciting opportunity to make a difference to cricket and our community – supporting cricket in local schools, strengthening our club, growing access for all to cricket across our region, and enriching the wider community.”

The addition of the all-weather facility comes after works to transform both the clubhouse and pavilion were completed, supported by the Darwen Town Deal.

Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “What the volunteers at Darwen Cricket Club have achieved here is absolutely tremendous.

“These new facilities will benefit the club, our town, borough, county and the whole region – inspiring a new generation to play and enjoy cricket.”

Jen Barden, executive director of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said: “We are delighted by the opening of the new cricket dome in Darwen – just the second of its kind to open in the UK.

“It is fantastic news for state schools in our local area and will provide vital year-round access to keep young cricketers – including those taking their first steps into the game – engaged for the full year, rather than just during the summer months.”

The project has been developed by the ECB in collaboration with Sir Rod Aldridge, Founder of the Aldridge Foundation and Aldridge Education Multi Academy Trust.

He has supported the project financially along with other partners including Harris Trust, Lloyd Trust Charity, Brian Mercer Trust and UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Sir Rod Aldridge said: “The Aldridge Foundation believes that more young people attending state schools should have the opportunity to play cricket and benefit from the positive attributes that it brings to individuals along with the community spirit it encourages.”