PalaceshieldCricket alt="Palace Shield Cricket Competition" title="Palace Shield Cricket Competition"

The draw for the 2022 Lancashire Knockout Cup has taken place at Emirates Old Trafford.

Kirkham and Wesham will welcome Westhoughton to the Woodlands, whereas Barrow will make the long trip to Ribblesdale Wanderers.

Director of Cricket Mark Chilton and first team player George Balderson picked out the ties for the First Round which includes 32 teams from ten different leagues.

2021 champions Ormskirk - who defeated Burnley by seven wickets at Emirates Old Trafford - host Knight Riders from the GMACL.

Gary Knight lifted the trophy for Ormskirk and has been looking back on the great day all Ormskirk players and fans had at Emirates Old Trafford: "Playing at  Emirates Old Trafford was an unbelievable experience, the staff really looked after us and made it a memorable day for both teams.

"It was a great day for our members and volunteers that make Ormskirk such a great club and to reward them with a day at Emirates Old Trafford was very satisfying."

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DRAW

While Burnley will be hoping to go one better than last year starting their cup campaign away against Settle.

The first round will begin on Sunday 22nd May.

The tie of the round sees Liverpool Competition league winners Northern travel to Northern Premier League winners Blackpool.

There’s an all Ribblesdale League clash as Feniscowles meet Read while Darwen have been drawn against Walsden in an all Lancashire League encounter.

The First Round brings some very exciting ties which should be a great start to the Lancashire Knockout Cup competition.

Knight adds: "The tournament is massive, outside the national competitions and some may argue it’s a harder competition to win than the nationals due to weather and the strength of clubs in and around Lancashire.

"I’ve always loved playing in the competition as it allows you to get around some great clubs in Lancashire such as the strengths of the Lancashire League, Bolton League, GMCL and other local leagues that produce such high quality cricketers and challenging places to visit. It’s a very important competition to test yourselves against the best in Lancashire and as a club we are extremely proud of our history in it and I’m sure other clubs would say the same."

James Cutt, Leagues and Teams manager has added: “Our thanks, as ever, go to the hardworking volunteers from across our league executives who help shape the Lancashire KO Cup with us, we are all looking forward to the build up to the first round and wish all competing clubs good luck for a successful summer in 2022.”

1^st Round Draw

Leigh vs Rainhill

Cheshire Lines vs Horwich RMI

Feniscowles vs Read

Norden CC vs Heysham

Farnworth Social Circle vs Lancaster 

Skelmersdale vs Longridge

Little Lever vs Roe Green

Ribblesdale Wanderers vs Barrow

Darwen vs Walsden

Ormskirk vs Knight Riders

Prestwich vs Clifton

Netherfield vs Formby

Settle vs Burnley

Kirkham & Wesham  vs Westhoughton

Clitheroe vs Denton St Lawerence

Blackpool vs Northern

Lancashire Knockout Cup dates

Round 1 - Sunday 22 May

Round 2 - Sunday 12 June

QF - Sunday 3 July

SF - Sunday 17 July

Final - TBC

It is with sadness we report the death of Anthony (Tony) Griffiths, who died peacefully last week.

Anthony was a Palace Shield winning Captain with Thornton ICI in 1975.

Later he also umpired in the league until recent years.

His Funeral will be at Carleton Cremetorium on Tuesday 21st December at 4pm