15th September 2025
| Laura Goode
Image L-R: Victoria Jones (Facilities Lead at Cricket Wales), Mike Hayden (Chair of Swansea Cricket Club), Cllr Rob Stewart (Swansea Council Leader) & Barry Cawte (CEO of Cricket Wales).
A New Era for Cricket in Swansea as £1.1M Transformation at Bishop Gore Playing Fields Begins
Cricket in Swansea is entering a bold new chapter, with a major £1.1 million investment soon to transform Bishop Gore Playing Fields into a state-of-the-art cricket hub for the city and wider region.
Driven by Swansea Council in partnership with Cricket Wales and the ECB, and with support for use of the land from the governing body of Bishop Gore School, the ambitious development will deliver a brand-new grass square, a modern clubhouse, and cutting-edge training and playing facilities laying the foundations for a vibrant, inclusive future for the sport in the city.
The investment follows the merger of Swansea Cricket Club and Swansea Civil Service Cricket Club, who will unite as a single club and be the anchor tenants of the new site. The vision is clear, to create a flagship centre for cricket in Swansea, where players from all backgrounds and communities can thrive.
Located at Bishop Gore Playing Fields on Sketty Lane, the newly redeveloped facility will include a newly installed, professionally constructed grass square, a full drainage and irrigation system to ensure playability and sustainability, state-of-the-art clubhouse with changing rooms, community space, and modern amenities, dedicated training areas for players of all levels with year-round access for both club and school use.
Importantly, Bishop Gore School will continue to use the playing fields and benefit from access to the enhanced facilities helping to inspire the next generation of cricketers through high-quality school sport.
Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, commented:
“This is a new era for cricket in Swansea, we are proud to be backing this transformative project, which will become a centrepiece for community sport in Swansea. This development is about investing in opportunity, inclusion, and long-term health and wellbeing as well as providing first class cricketing opportunities for this cricket loving community.”
He added: “This is an exciting milestone for the city. The facilities being delivered at Bishop Gore Playing Fields will be among the best in Wales. They will give people from all walks of life including those in underserved communities the chance to engage with cricket and sport more broadly in a top-class environment.”
Steve Wilson, Acting Headteacher at Bishop Gore said: “I am very pleased that the children of Bishop Gore School will, in the long term, benefit from the significant upgrade of Cricket facilities at our Sketty Lane site. Furthermore, I am reassured that continued use of the school rugby pitch and the betterment of the school’s PE facilities, has been assured by representatives of the council.”
The development at Bishop Gore Playing Fields has been shaped through a close and ongoing partnership with Cricket Wales, who have worked alongside Swansea Council and local clubs from the very beginning. From concept design to securing funding and shaping the long-term vision, Cricket Wales has played a leading role in ensuring the project meets the needs of the community and delivers genuine legacy for the sport across Swansea.
The project is also backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and complements ongoing investment in natural turf pitches across Swansea through the ECB Grass Pitch Improvement Fund and The Hundred Legacy programme, including works already underway at Ashley Road, Tir Canol, and Mynydd Newydd.
Victoria Jones, Head of Facilities and Investment at Cricket Wales, said:
“This is a really exciting time for cricket in Swansea. The investment at Bishop Gore Playing Fields marks a real step change not just in terms of facilities, but in what cricket can offer to local communities. It reflects our shared commitment to access, diversity, and excellence.
“Cricket Wales has been involved in this project from day one, from the earliest conversations and planning stages right through to design, funding, and delivery. This isn’t just a facility upgrade; it’s the result of a true partnership between ourselves, Swansea Council, Bishop Gore School and the local cricket community. We’re proud to have helped shape a development that will have a lasting impact on participation and access to cricket across the city, and we’re incredibly excited to see the finished facilities come to life in 2026.”
Barry Cawte, Chief Executive of Cricket Wales, added:
“This development is a blueprint for what’s possible when clubs, councils, and governing bodies work together with a shared vision. It reflects the very heart of Cricket Wales’ new strategy and values, Together, Lead Care, creating inclusive, accessible spaces that grow the game for everyone. These new facilities will help us reach communities that have traditionally been underrepresented in cricket, especially in one of Wales’ most diverse cities, ensuring cricket is A Sport For All. It will open doors for women and girls, minority ethnic communities, and young people, and lay the foundations for a truly inclusive cricketing future.
As part of the project, the newly merged club has also formed a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, the Swansea Bay Sports Association to support fundraising, widen community impact, and strengthen governance.
Mike Hayden, Trustee of the Swansea Bay Sports Association, said:
“This is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about building something lasting that serves the whole community not just current cricketers, but the next generation and beyond. The creation of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation gives us the tools to grow even further and deliver inclusive, life-changing programmes through sport.”
Construction has now begun on-site, with completion scheduled for 31st March 2026 just in time for the new season. The overall project is being managed by Swansea Council, with photo and media opportunities to follow in the coming weeks.