Brixworth Cricket Club secures long-term future with support from the Steelbacks Foundation

Brixworth Cricket Club has secured its long-term future following the purchase of its ground through a new company led by the club and supported by the Steelbacks Foundation.

The agreement ensures cricket will continue to be played at Brixworth for generations to come, cementing the club’s role at the heart of the local community.

With a proud history and strong membership, Brixworth Cricket Club has long been a cornerstone of grassroots cricket in Northamptonshire. The ground, previously owned by local businessman Dallas Burston, has been subject to development speculation in recent years. This new arrangement safeguards the site for cricket and community use.

All parties express their deep gratitude to Dr Burston, who built the ground 20 years ago and has remained Patron of Brixworth Cricket Club.

Under the new structure, the club will continue to play at the ground, with plans to invest in and enhance facilities. This will create new opportunities to grow participation and engagement across the game, particularly in women’s and girls’ cricket, disability cricket, and within the Northamptonshire player pathway.

The acquisition forms part of a wider facilities strategy for cricket in the county. Northamptonshire is developing a “hub and spoke” model to expand access to the game, taking cricket into more communities and creating sustainable, high-quality environments for players of all ages and abilities.

As part of this strategic shift, the county club will no longer be progressing its previously proposed new-build development at Moulton.

The new company responsible for the purchase and ongoing management of the site is led by directors Peter Jones, Andrew Roper and Christian Timm, together combining local leadership with broader strategic expertise.

Andrew Roper, Brixworth Cricket Club: “This is a huge moment for Brixworth Cricket Club. Securing the ground means we can now concentrate on the important things of growing the game and serving the local community. A massive thank you to our members and supporters who have helped us reach this vital stage. We cannot be more excited to work with the Steelbacks Foundation, together, we hope we can improve our facilities and welcome more people, from all backgrounds into our great game. Their passion equals ours which is a great start.”

Karen Nicholson, Chair of the Steelbacks Foundation: “We believe cricket should be accessible to everyone, and facilities like Brixworth are vital to making that happen. This is about more than protecting a cricket ground, it’s about unlocking its potential as a community asset. By securing its future, we can support participation across the county, from grassroots through to the pathway, and particularly grow the women’s and girls’ and disability game. It’s a brilliant example of what can be achieved when clubs and county cricket come together with a shared ambition.”

The deal represents a significant step forward for cricket in Northamptonshire, protecting a valued community asset while creating a platform for future growth, investment and wider participation across the game.