Hundreds of Free Places Available on 2026 Cricket Hubs
Lancashire Cricket Foundation is delighted to confirm that hundreds of free places are now available on the 2026 MCC Foundation Hub Programme, starting this January, giving young cricketers more opportunities than ever to access high-quality coaching and competitive match play.
For the first time, the programme will be led by Lancashire Cricket Foundation coaches, with delivery taking place across Blackpool, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton, Liverpool and Manchester.
The MCC Foundation Hubs provide free-to-access training and match play for state-educated young cricketers, supporting talented players who may have come through non-traditional formats, street cricket or school-based programmes to transition into hard-ball cricket, join clubs and access formal talent pathways.
The programme has a strong track record of success, with many previous participants progressing into county age-group pathways, regional programmes, young leadership roles and cricket coaching qualifications. Alongside on-field development, the Hubs also support young people to grow in confidence, improve their focus at school and develop important life skills.
A national MCC Foundation competition begins each April, culminating in a prestigious final at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Boys’ trials will take place in January, while all girls who register will be placed directly onto the programme, due to the high number of places available.
Greg Pennington, Cricket Development Manager (Inclusion) at Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said:
“The MCC Foundation Hubs have been incredibly successful in Lancashire in recent years, both on and off the field. We’ve proudly created new opportunities for young cricketers to raise their game, and with the support of LCF coaches and our exciting plans for 2026, we can’t wait to see the next generation of players take their cricket to the next level.
As well as pathway progression, we’ve seen young people move from community and school cricket straight into Hubs and future leadership roles – which shows just how powerful this opportunity really is. It’s vital that players sign up as early as possible.
The opportunities through the Hubs are endless, from progression into Inter-League cricket, high-quality coaching and regular training to competitive games and national competitions.
We’re especially excited that Lancashire Cricket Foundation coaches will be leading the programme for the first time. This allows us to build even stronger, planned connections into the Pathway for All and the wider talent system from the very start of the programme.”Places are available for state-educated cricketers only. Parents, carers and young people are encouraged to register as soon as possible.