We have officially become the first club in the UK to purchase a Lord’s-style "Hover Cover." This state-of-the-art piece of machinery, usually reserved for Test Match venues and elite international grounds, is set to revolutionise our match-day experience by guaranteeing flat, bone-dry wickets for the entire 2026 season, regardless of the unpredictable Formby weather.

The acquisition represents a significant technological leap for local cricket. While these units typically command a six-figure price tag, a bit of savvy "off-season" scouting by the committee made the dream a reality.
We caught up with Chairman Richard Scanlan, who couldn't hide his excitement about the new arrival:
"A hover cover is a fantastic purchase for the club. They are normally £100,000, which was out of budget as this would have eaten too much into our huge playing budget. But they were reduced to £80,000 in the Boxing Day sales, so we snapped one up!"

The new cover isn't just about protecting the square; it’s about convenience. The unit is fully app-controlled, allowing the ground staff—or even the captain—to deploy the covers with a swipe of a smartphone.
"It is app-controlled, so you can put the covers on while sitting at home or having a pint in the clubhouse," Richard explained. "No more sprinting out in the rain to drag the old heavy rollers. We just hit 'Deploy' and watch it glide into place."

Raising £80,000 for a single piece of kit is no small feat. The purchase was made possible through a series of dedicated fundraising events throughout the winter.

"We did a few raffles and the 1st XI did a bag-packing afternoon at Tesco, so we were able to raise the funds to make this purchase," Richard added. "It’s a testament to the hard work of the players and the generosity of our supporters."

The club expects the Hover Cover to be fully operational for our first home fixture. We invite all members to come down to Cricket Path this afternoon to see it in action—just make sure to keep your hats on as it hovers by!