Staffordshire have confirmed their home venues for the 2026 National Counties Cricket Association season.
The summer will mark a return to Stone SP for the first time in 11 years when they host a Twenty20 Cup game against Northumberland.
The NCCA season for Staffs commences on Sunday, April 26 with a home Knockout Trophy clash against Norfolk, which will be played at West Bromwich Dartmouth.
The other 50-over Group Two on home turf, on May 17, sees Staffordshire host Lincolnshire at Bignall End.
Staffs hadn’t played at the Boon Hill venue for 35 years before returning last summer in the Knockout Trophy against Suffolk.
And such was the success of the occasion, Staffordshire are heading to the venue once more.
Attention then turns to the Twenty20 Cup format.
Staffordshire have home matches against Northumberland and Cheshire in the competition.
The two T20s against Northumberland, on Sunday, May 24, sees the county return to Stone SP.
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It will be the first time Staffordshire have played at Lichfield Road since facing Berkshire back in 2015.
The other home encounter against near-neighbours Cheshire will be played at Burslem on June 14.
The final block of the fixtures of the summer is the three-day Championship format.
Staffordshire’s opening Division One East home game is between July 26 and 28 against Cambridgeshire.
The match will be played at Checkley’s Four Trees venue.
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The last home three-dayer sees Staffs return to Stafford once more where they host Suffolk, starting on August 23.
Staffordshire are also playing a pre-season friendly at home against Herefordshire on Sunday, April 19. A venue is yet to be confirmed.
Away grounds are also in the process of being arranged and will be announced in due course.
‘Showpiece venues’
Meanwhile, the National Counties Cricket Association have announced the venues for their finals next summer.
And, for the first time, Copdock & Old Ipswichian will stage one of the showpiece events.
The ground, near Ipswich, will host the Knockout Trophy final on Sunday, July 19.
Staffordshire played at the venue in 2025 when they drew their Championship encounter against Suffolk.
Twenty20 Cup finals day is back at Wormsley on Sunday, August 30, with West Bromwich Dartmouth hosting the Championship final.
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The four-day final, which sees the winners of Division One East and West do battle for the overall title, runs from Sunday, September 6 to Wednesday, September 9.
NCCA operations director Richard Logan told the organisation’s website: “The finals are always the highlight of the NCCA year. The Championship Final will return to West Bromwich Dartmouth for the last time, having spent a number of successful years there.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Copdock. We have some exciting plans for the one-day final. Martin and the team there have been great, and I’m sure this will be a huge success.
“Moving the T20 final to Wormsley for 2025 really made the most of what is arguably the best cricket ground outside of the first-class network, and I can’t wait to return in 2026.”
Main image: Checkley will stage one of Staffordshire’s NCCA Championship matches in 2026. Picture: David Peters