Somerset County Cricket Club has achieved a historic milestone, generating over £10 million in revenue for the first time, according to the club’s recently published annual accounts for the year ending December 31, 2025.
The club reported total income of £12.4 million and a post-tax surplus of £2 million, marking a transformational year both on and off the pitch. Revenue increased by £4.6 million compared to the previous year, buoyed by Somerset’s Vitality T20 Blast triumph—their second title in three seasons—and increased funding from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to inaugurate the Somerset Professional Women’s team.
A substantial portion of this financial boost stems from the ECB’s sale of eight franchises in The Hundred. Somerset has been allocated £18.52 million from this deal, with an additional £5.5 million anticipated in future payments. Most of this income is securely invested in a JP Morgan portfolio overseen by the ECB, but in 2025, the club accessed a £1.39 million “member distribution,” which was promptly used to eliminate the club’s Barclays bank debt.
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Loan repayments reached £1.18 million last year, reducing Somerset’s overall debt to a modest £0.6 million—primarily a retained loan facility with Somerset Council. Financial regulations tied to The Hundred funds mandate that income be directed toward debt reduction, reserve creation, and revenue-generating or protective projects, while encouraging clubs to operate independently of investment income.
On-field achievements were equally impressive: Somerset clinched the T20 Blast trophy again, reached the Metro Bank One-Day Cup semi-finals, and secured third place in the County Championship for the second consecutive year. Their newly established professional women’s team also demonstrated strong competitiveness, narrowly missing the 50-over finals.
However, maintaining elite status in English cricket came with rising costs. Total expenditure rose by £2.5 million, nearing £10 million, driven primarily by a significant increase in player wages and salaries—from £3.71 million to £4.92 million. This was fueled by a larger staff count (171 employees versus 131 previously) and the escalating costs of retaining top talent, amid ongoing inflationary pressures and growing utility expenses.
The club’s finance report acknowledged the challenges of managing these rising professional cricket costs: “Large-scale financial investment into the game inflates player expectations. Balancing the retention of the best players while controlling costs remains a key focus for Somerset.”
In addition to on-field and financial accomplishments, Somerset has begun modernizing its infrastructure. In 2025, supported by an ECB grant, the club invested approximately £500,000 in a comprehensive overhaul of the overdue Indoor Cricket Centre, upgrading flooring, nets, and lighting to create a state-of-the-art training environment for all levels.
Given that the Cooper Associates County Ground does not host Men’s Test Matches or The Hundred games, Somerset still relies heavily on central ECB funding, which constitutes 56% of its total revenue. To reduce this dependence, the club is focusing on transforming the Taunton venue to enhance non-cricket income streams through increased conferencing, events, and improved catering operations—which remained flat in 2025.
Despite the challenges facing domestic cricket, Somerset’s financial position is one of its strongest in recent history. Net assets grew to £12.6 million from £10.6 million, with cash reserves of £1.9 million providing a sound financial foundation.
Chief Executive Jamie Cox summarized the club’s outlook: “The capital generated from The Hundred franchise sales presents a generational opportunity for county clubs. For Somerset, securing success at the highest level means investing in modernizing our facilities and retaining our best young players—steps crucial to sustaining our future competitiveness.”