AO and Lancashire Cricket Launch a Decade-Long Partnership to Inspire the Next Generation of Cricketers
AO, the UK’s most trusted electrical retailer, has announced a landmark 10-year partnership with Lancashire Cricket that aims to introduce more than 150,000 young people to cricket over the next decade. The long-term collaboration represents one of the most significant community-focused investments in the sport, combining world-class facilities with grassroots development to create lasting opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.
As part of the agreement, Lancashire Cricket’s state-of-the-art venue in Farington will officially become the AO Farington Cricket Ground, symbolizing a shared commitment to growing the game, strengthening local communities, and building a clear pathway from recreational cricket to the professional stage.
The partnership extends AO’s long-standing support for youth sport across the UK and reinforces both organizations’ belief that cricket has the power to develop confidence, teamwork, resilience, and lifelong skills. By investing over the next ten years, AO and Lancashire Cricket are creating a sustainable foundation that will benefit today’s young players as well as future generations.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Cricket
Cricket continues to inspire millions of fans across England, but ensuring the sport remains accessible requires sustained investment in facilities, coaching, and community engagement.
Recognizing this need, AO and Lancashire Cricket have committed to a partnership that goes beyond sponsorship. Their shared ambition is to create more opportunities for young people to discover cricket, participate regularly, and develop their skills regardless of their background or experience.
The newly named AO Farington Cricket Ground will serve as the centerpiece of that vision.
Designed as a modern, dual-purpose cricket venue, the facility will support elite competition while remaining firmly rooted in the local community. It represents a long-term investment not only in Lancashire Cricket but also in the thousands of children, families, schools, clubs, and volunteers who help the sport thrive at grassroots level.
Building on an Established Partnership
The announcement builds upon an already successful relationship between AO and Lancashire Cricket.
Since 2023, AO has supported the club’s talent development pathway by sponsoring its Academy, age-group teams, and sports science and medical department. That investment has helped nurture promising young cricketers while providing professional support systems that enable athletes to perform at their highest level.
The new agreement significantly expands that commitment.
Rather than focusing solely on elite player development, the partnership now supports every stage of the cricketing journey—from introducing children to the game for the first time through community programmes to preparing future professionals capable of representing Lancashire on the national stage.
This holistic approach ensures that opportunities exist throughout the entire player pathway, making cricket more inclusive and accessible across the region.
A Ground Designed for Every Level of the Game
At the heart of the partnership is the AO Farington Cricket Ground, a purpose-built facility designed to serve both professional and community cricket.
Unlike traditional venues that focus primarily on elite competition, Farington has been developed to accommodate players at every stage of their sporting journey.
The venue features two dedicated cricket ovals, each serving a distinct but complementary purpose.
The professional ground will host competitive fixtures for Lancashire’s men’s and women’s teams throughout the season, providing players with a first-class environment to train and compete.
Alongside it, a second Community Oval has been created specifically for recreational cricket, youth development, schools, clubs, and community organisations.
Managed by the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, the Community Oval will provide more than 750 hours of cricket activity every year, creating regular opportunities for people of all ages to participate in coaching sessions, local competitions, school programmes, and grassroots initiatives.
By bringing community cricket and professional cricket together within the same venue, AO Farington Cricket Ground creates a unique environment where aspiring players can see firsthand what the pathway to elite sport looks like.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For Lancashire fast bowler Tom Bailey, the new facility represents something deeply personal.
Having grown up only a few miles away in Preston, Bailey understands the importance of accessible facilities and strong community clubs in helping young players develop their talent.
His own cricket journey began at Vernon Carus Cricket Club before progressing through Lancashire Cricket’s player pathway and eventually reaching the professional game.
Reflecting on the new partnership, Bailey believes AO Farington Cricket Ground will become a powerful source of inspiration for local youngsters.
He points out that the venue is far more than a stadium where supporters can watch professional cricket.
Instead, it has been designed as a place where local schools, families, community groups, and young players can actively participate in the sport themselves.
The combination of a Community Oval alongside a professional playing venue creates a visible connection between grassroots cricket and the highest levels of competition.
Young players from Preston, South Ribble, and surrounding communities will have the opportunity to play on the same site where Lancashire’s professional teams compete.
Watching elite players in action while participating in community cricket can help transform ambition into reality, showing children exactly where dedication and hard work can lead.
Bailey believes that if a facility like AO Farington Cricket Ground had existed during his own childhood, it would have been an incredible opportunity.
Today, he hopes it will inspire the next generation to follow a similar path.
Creating Opportunities Beyond Cricket
Although the partnership focuses on cricket, its impact is expected to reach much further.
Research consistently shows that participation in sport helps young people develop confidence, discipline, communication skills, leadership, resilience, and teamwork.
These qualities extend well beyond the playing field and contribute positively to education, employment, and personal development.
AO has long recognised the wider social value of grassroots sport.
Through its own community initiatives and partnerships, the company has already helped make sport more accessible for nearly half a million children across the UK.
The collaboration with Lancashire Cricket strengthens that commitment by providing high-quality facilities alongside structured programmes that encourage participation across all age groups.
Whether children dream of becoming professional cricketers or simply want to enjoy playing with friends, the partnership aims to create welcoming environments where everyone feels able to take part.
Investing in Communities for the Long Term
Unlike many sponsorship agreements that run for only a few years, AO’s decade-long commitment provides long-term certainty for Lancashire Cricket.
This stability enables the club to invest confidently in coaching, community programmes, facility improvements, and player development without the uncertainty of short-term funding cycles.
AO Founder and CEO John Roberts believes this long-term perspective is one of the partnership’s greatest strengths.
Having supported young people through sport for more than three decades, Roberts understands that meaningful community impact requires sustained investment rather than one-off initiatives.
He explains that sport has the ability to help young people develop confidence, teamwork, resilience, and valuable life skills.
Through grassroots programmes, AO has already seen the positive difference these opportunities can make for hundreds of thousands of children.
For Roberts, extending the partnership over ten years demonstrates a commitment not only to today’s players but also to future generations who will benefit from the facilities and programmes created through this investment.
Rather than simply sponsoring a venue, AO is helping establish a long-term home for cricket development across Lancashire.
Strengthening Lancashire’s Player Pathway
For Lancashire Cricket, the enhanced partnership significantly strengthens its long-term player development strategy.
Director of Cricket Performance Mark Chilton describes AO as a valued partner that has already contributed significantly to the club’s Academy, age-group programmes, and sports science operations.
The expanded agreement allows Lancashire Cricket to extend that support across every stage of player development.
Young cricketers entering community programmes will now benefit from clearer progression opportunities, improved facilities, and stronger connections to elite coaching environments.
The AO Farington Cricket Ground will become a central component of Lancashire Cricket’s infrastructure, providing players with world-class environments to learn, train, compete, and develop throughout their careers.
Equally important, the venue strengthens the relationship between community participation and professional performance, ensuring that aspiring cricketers can see a tangible pathway from local clubs to county cricket.
More Than a Commercial Partnership
For Angela Hodson, Commercial Director at Lancashire Cricket, the relationship with AO represents something deeper than traditional sponsorship.
She believes the two organisations share common values centred on community development, accessibility, and long-term investment.
That alignment transforms the partnership into a collaborative effort to grow cricket across the region rather than simply attaching a company name to a venue.
The ten-year commitment demonstrates confidence in the project’s long-term vision and reflects both organisations’ ambition to maximise the facility’s impact.
From elite competition to recreational participation, AO Farington Cricket Ground has been designed to serve every level of the sport.
Having AO associated with the venue reinforces the shared belief that lasting success depends on supporting players from the grassroots upwards.
A New Chapter for Cricket in Lancashire
The partnership will be officially celebrated during a community launch event at the newly named AO Farington Cricket Ground, marking the beginning of an exciting new era for one of Lancashire Cricket’s most important facilities.
Developed in close collaboration with Lancashire County Council, the venue reflects a collective commitment to creating lasting sporting opportunities throughout the region.
Over the next decade, thousands of schoolchildren will experience cricket for the first time.
Community clubs will gain access to modern facilities.
Young players will develop their skills under expert guidance.
Professional cricketers will compete in a world-class environment.
Families will come together through sport.
Volunteers, coaches, teachers, and local organisations will help create welcoming opportunities for participation.
Together, these experiences will contribute to a stronger, more inclusive cricket community.
A Lasting Legacy
The AO and Lancashire Cricket partnership is ultimately about much more than naming rights.
It represents a shared investment in people, communities, and the future of cricket.
By combining long-term financial commitment with outstanding facilities and community engagement, both organisations are helping ensure that the sport remains accessible, inspiring, and sustainable for years to come.
With the ambition to introduce more than 150,000 young people to cricket over the next ten years, the partnership has the potential to leave a lasting legacy—not only by developing future Lancashire stars but also by creating lifelong opportunities for participation, personal growth, and community connection through the game.
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