Harrogate area cricket clubs to vie for Lord's glory in Voneus Village Cup 2024

The draw for this year’s tournament has been held at the Home of Cricket ahead of the preliminary and first round matches next month, with more than 350 clubs from England, Scotland and Wales taking part.

Participating Yorkshire clubs have initially been split into three groups – covering North Yorkshire (North), North Yorkshire (South) and West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire & Humberside – for the 2024 competition.

Among them are Goldsborough, drawn in the North Yorkshire (North) group, and Killinghall, in North Yorkshire (South).

Goldsborough will play South Milford in a preliminary round on Sunday, April 14, while Killinghall face Carlton Towers two weeks later in the first round proper.

These regional stages will eventually lead to two lucky finalists to compete for prestigious Cup - which has been run by The Cricketer magazine since 1972 - at Lord’s on Sunday, September 15.

The 2024 Voneus Village Cup Community Legends Award, which recognises the village clubs up and down the country that are integral to their rural communities, will also run concurrently with the tournament and details on how to enter your club can be found here.

Addressing the tournament’s entrants ahead of the draw at Lord’s, Voneus Village Cup ambassador and World Cup winner Lydia Greenway said: “The Voneus Village Cup has been a staple of rural sporting life across Great Britain for more than half a century – and this year yet again promises many more exciting twists and turns on the road to Lord’s, where two lucky clubs will grace the Home of Cricket in the final. I wish all teams vying for the title this year the best of luck.”

Lydia, who was also involved in four Ashes-winning squads during her England career between 2003 and 2016, added: “Once again, our Community Legends award will also celebrate cricket’s unsung heroes and the vital work village clubs do in bringing together the communities they proudly represent on the field.

“Nominating your club only takes a moment and the competition launches today! And, for the winning club, there’s a Legendary End of Year Do waiting when the curtain falls on the 2024 season. Who knows, I might even see you there!”

Voneus Broadband CEO, Christopher Traggio, added: “Last year we had a tough decision to make after so many strong entries shone a light on the individual and team efforts that go into making village cricket clubs beacons of their communities.

“We’re so passionate about connecting rural communities and championing the team spirit village cricket brings both on and off the field, if you think your club deserves to be recognised, we want to hear from you. This year’s Village Cup competition is already shaping up to be better than ever, and we’re thrilled to welcome a number of new village clubs onto the road to Lord’s. Good luck everyone!”

The Cricketer’s editor Huw Turbervill, who conducted the draw alongside the magazine’s managing director Jim Hindson, said: “It was a privilege as always to start each club on their journey from the hallowed Committee Room at Lord’s.

“For two lucky clubs this will culminate on a visit here to the Home of Cricket in September, and we can’t wait to cover every twist and turn of the 2024 competition between now and then.

“Thank you to both Voneus Broadband and Lydia Greenway for their continued support of this historic and wonderful tournament – and all the best to all the players and clubs involved.”