Liverpool CC - Fifteen facts about Liverpool Cricket Club

Fifteen facts about Liverpool Cricket Club

1. The club's iconic pavilion was opened in 1881 and designed by Thomas Harnett Harrison.

2. It is one of the oldest pavilions still in use and is the oldest at any first class cricket venue in the country beating the likes of Trent Bridge (1886) and Lord's (1890).

3. Liverpool CC spent the huge sum of £2,000 to purchase the site, plus £21,000 on the pavilion and ground layout which were carried out by Cubitts, one of the leading contractors of the day.

4. The ground hosted its maiden first class cricket match in 1881, a fixture between Lancashire and Cambridge University.

5. The ground is split in half by the railway line with the lower pitch also featuring two rugby pitches. Liverpool Rugby Club played on these from 1889-1963, while other pitches were sold for housing in the 1990s.

6. The upper ground is dominated by the cricket pitch which, with a square of 24 strips, is second in size only to the Oval in London.

7. Other facilities at the ground include five squash courts and nine tennis courts.

8. The main pavilion is overlooked by the former Ladies Pavilion which was built in 1900 and now houses a children's nursery.

TENNIS AT AIGBURTH IN THE 1950s

9. The ground is no stranger to tennis: from 1882-1928 Aigburth alternated with the Northern Tennis Club in Manchester as the venue for the annual Northern Tournament, an event which first bought local player Lottie Dodd to the public's attention.

10. The ground also has a place in football history. On 24th February 1883, the ground staged the city's first ever international when England beat Ireland 7-0 in a match watched by a crowd of 2,500. Everton also played three matches there before they found a permanent home.

11. The pavilion houses two lounges, both named after former players who won Victoria Crosses during World War I: Captain Noel Chevasse (who was awarded it twice) and Major Eric Dougall.

12. Sir Donald Bradman, cited the Liverpool arena as one of his top five favourite grounds in the world. The great Australian played there in the 1930s and described the views across the river and Welsh hills as "breathtaking".

LANCASHIRE v NEW ZEALAND IN AUGUST 1949 scorecard

13. The ground's all time record crowd was 7,633 for the visit of the West Indies in 1984. Gordon Greenidge scored 186.

14. The pavilion was 'men only' until 1975, and a sign on the balcony of the pavilion suggested as much: 'Dogs and ladies not allowed'.

15. Lancashire County Cricket Club made the club their home during 2011 when Old Trafford was undergoing refurbishment. That season saw the Red Rose win their first County Championship since 1950 when Lancashire won four out of their six matches at the ground.