The man who built an international cricket ground in his garden

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The man who built an international cricket ground in his garden

BBC Sport · 23 hours ago

A Jersey farmer's decades-long vision materialised into Farmers Field, an international-standard cricket ground situated on his property in the parish of St Martin. The facility emerged from humble beginnings—a Portakabin and makeshift infrastructure—following Perchard's successful planning application in 2003 and opening two years later. Through sustained investment and sponsorship, the ground developed into a fully-equipped venue with pavilion, professional boundary infrastructure, and facilities comparable to established English cricket clubs that inspired its design.

The ground has proven transformative for Jersey cricket at multiple levels. The local Farmers Cricket Club achieved a historic milestone by winning the European Cricket League—becoming the first Jersey-based club to claim the continental title—whilst the facility hosted Jersey's national team during their qualification for the World Cup Global Qualifiers, including a notable victory over Italy. The project carries personal significance for Perchard, whose son Charles has served as a long-standing national team captain, with both crediting the ground as pivotal to Jersey's international cricket ambitions.

  • Jersey farmer Jimmy Perchard converted his property into an international cricket ground over two decades, fulfilling a lifelong ambition that began with casual matches among island farmers in 1977
  • The facility became instrumental to Jersey cricket's growth, hosting the first European Cricket League title win by a Jersey club and serving as the venue for the national team's World Cup Global Qualifiers qualification
  • Perchard's son Charles captains Jersey's national side and credits the ground as essential to the island's competitive cricket development and future World Cup prospects

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