Cumbrian clubs are benefitting from the West Lancashire League’s partnership with GroundhopUK.
In January the league agreed a three-year partnership with GroundhopUK which bore fruit over this weekend.
Up to 10 matches will have been staged at West Lancashire League grounds over the four days of the August Bank Holiday weekend.
For Cumbria in particular it has seen increased crowds and interest in matches on the Furness peninsula.
Crooklands Casuals got their season off and running with their first points as Saturday’s Groundhop event headed to the Furness peninsula.
Luke Armstrong’s 19th minute goal helped Crooklands to a 1-0 win at Askam in the 11am kick-off watched by 374 spectators.
Down the road at Dalton United in the 2pm kick off, Storeys bagged their sixth win in seven with a 3-0 win.
Joe Wearing and a brace by Tim Last did the damage for the away side.
Remarkably, the attendance was again 374.
In the final match of the day, Ulverston Rangers hosted Slyne and come back from a goal down to win 2-1.
Ryan Hollings gave the away side an early lead before Sam Harrison equalised before the break.
Matty Lawler then grabbed the winner on 69 minutes in front of 307.
The event mirrored the North West Counties groundhop in March, as hoppers were taken by bus to each match, with fixtures arranged geographically to maximise accommodation and travelling time.
Clubs not offered to host a match during this first West Lancashire League groundhop will be offered the opportunity in year two or year three so every eligible member club benefits.
It will only involve first teams (no reserves) with clubs who have appeared in previous hops while involved in other leagues not able to take part.
Those who groundshare and are not the owners of the ground or the primary tenant are also excluded.
Clubs will be able to charge an admission fee and are expected to provide a match programme and offer catering.
Groundhop UK began in 2002 and organisers estimate members have injected £1.2m into local non-league football based on a conservative estimate of £7 spent by each hopper at each match.
