A return to Division One of the County Championship for Durham's cricketers has helped their club broadly maintain turnover and profits.
New accounts for the Durham Cricket Community Interest Company show the club generated turnover of £8.36m in the year to the end of September, up from £8.02m in 2023, while operating profit fell to £248,685 from £294,663. The results came despite cost pressures outlined by chairman Philip Collins, who took over from outgoing chairman and cricketing legend Lord Ian Botham, who had held the position since 2017.
Lord Botham has since become honorary president of the club having been credited with overseeing its recovery and for the playing talent it has produced under his tenure. Mr Collins said Lord Botham had worked hard to progress the club and been rewarded with promotion in his final year as chairman.
The year saw Durham play in the first division of the County Championships for the first time since 2016, finishing fifth. Players clocked up four wins, four defeats and six draws during the season with David Bedingham leading the country's run scoring charts at 1331 and Alex Leeds following at 924. Matthew Potts, Ben Raine and Callum Parkinson led the club's bowling attack, each securing more than 30 wickets.
Within the Vitality Blast T20 cricket league, Durham saw seven wins, six defeats and one no result. Having secured fourth place - the club's best result since 2016 - it was knocked out in the quarter finals by Surrey. Graham Clark and Alex Lees led the Durham run scoring charts, both securing more than 100., while Raine and Nathan Sowter topping the bowling charts.
Durham players Ben Stoke, Mark Wood, Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse earned international recognition in the senior men's team while Alex Lees, Ollie Robinson and Callum Parkinson gaining played for England Lions. Ben McKinney captained an England Under 19 side that also included Mitchell Killeen, Haydon Mustard and Dan Hogg.
Recognition was given by the club to its boys and girls pathway and academy programme that nurtures young talent in the region. It said the work played a key role in Durham being granted Tier 1 women's status for the 2025 season, which it hopes will bring new players and audience to its Riverside Ground.
Elsewhere, the club said the allocation of two international matches - in 2026 and 2028 - by the England and Wales Cricket Board would bring important revenue. And talks are still under way with Durham County Council about the club's £27m hotel plans at the Riverside.
Writing in the accounts, chairman Mr Collins said: "Despite rising cost pressures across the game, our continued strong financial management of the last few years continued and, with a stable income base, I am delighted to report a group profit of £206,428 in the current financial year as we look to continue strengthening our financial position for the challenges ahead.
"I would also like to acknowledge the support from our key stakeholder Durham County Council and our lead sponsors Dafabet and Seat Unique. I must also mention the tremendous support we receive from the Durham Cricket Board and their chairman Mike Smith as our relationship becomes ever stronger under the Durham Cricket Umbrella."
