Norfolk Confirm Sprowston as New Home

Norfolk have announced that they will be moving home to Sprowston’s Barker’s Lane ground having failed to reach agreement to continue playing at Manor Park in Horsford.

Manor Park has been Norfolk’s home since the County Ground at Lakenham closed in 2000 but the county club have been unable to agree a mutually agreeable financial package with the trustees of Horsford CC.

Instead Norfolk have announced a long-term agreement has been reached with Sprowston and that the Norfolk Cricket Festival, which includes matches against Hertfordshire and Northumberland in Eastern Division Two of the Durant Cricket National Counties Championship and the Showcase match against Kent on August 4, will be played there.

Sprowston will also host the National Counties Trophy match against Staffordshire on May 18 along with T20 double-headers against Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The only Norfolk home match not scheduled for Sprowston is their opening match in the defence of their Trophy title against Suffolk at Fakenham on April 27.

“Following cordial negotiations with the Trustees of Horsford CC over recent weeks it is with very heavy hearts that the Norfolk CCC executive committee has made the difficult decision to leave Manor Park which has been the counties base for the last 24 years,” said Norfolk Chairman Mike Hanby.

“The two clubs have been unable to find a mutually agreeable financial package that suits the needs of both parties. Norfolk CCC had made a very generous offer to Horsford CC that was not accepted and therefore we had no alternative but to look for a new home.

“After Norfolk CCC advised Horsford CC they were leaving and had reached an agreement to play at another host club, Horsford came back to say Norfolk CCC could have free cricket in 2025. This offer was too late as Norfolk CCC had already agreed a package with the new host club.

The executive committee of Norfolk CCC has extended their sincere thanks to everyone at Horsford CC for their help and support over the 24 years and have wished Horsford CC “all the best” for the future.”

Manor Park was first used by Norfolk in 1986 and staged five List A, 66 Championship, 44 Trophy and 19 T20 county matches.

Sprowston first staged county cricket last summer, sharing Norfolk’s home white ball home matches with Great Witchingham while work was carried out on the pitches at Manor Park.