Welcome to the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club

The Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club was founded in 1976 by Lavinia Duchess of Norfolk in memory of her late husband Bernard, 16th Duke of Norfolk.  The Duke was renowned for his love of the game of cricket and he was never happier than when he was manager of the England Tour to Australia.  He also regularly played in his own Castle Cricket side and was the creator of the 22 yards rustic pavilion, which he felt finished off one of the most famous and beautiful grounds in the world.  In 1956 after a personal request from the Duke, the Australians became the first visiting international side to play at Arundel in front of over twelve thousand people.  Since then nearly all the ‘Legends of Cricket’ from every cricketing nation have graced our square and memories run high for both players and spectators alike, and many still want to revisit this truly British experience and venue.

The Friends have flourished over the past thirty seven seasons and we now see first class cricket played regularly on this ground by Sussex County Cricket Club, England Under 19s and the England Ladies XIs.  We still have overseas touring club sides from all continents wanting to play at Arundel against Duke of Norfolk XIs, along with an array of English clubs and representative sides.  MCC and ECB are both true supporters of The Friends and they have several matches here each year of varying standards, all of which our supporters regularly attend.  The Sussex Martlets also play seven of their club fixtures at the ground each year and now consider it as their home ground.

Attached to the Club we also have the charitable arm in the form of the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation.  The Foundation was formed in 1986 and helps with young people who are disadvantaged, deprived of opportunities or are in a special needs category.  To help with all of this and for general practice and coaching sessions we also have an indoor school that has multi function facilities for both Club and Foundation.  The playing area is in fact used up to a total of fifty days each year by the two organisations, with the most mixed variety of cricket that can ever be imagined and we are very proud of what we do, achieve and promote for all those who come to the ground.