Somerset County Cricket Club has secured the largest single commercial deal in its 150-year history, extending its ground naming rights partnership with the Taunton-headquartered Cooper Associates Group until the conclusion of the 2030 season. The agreement cements a decade-long collaboration that began in 2016 and has coincided with one of the club’s most successful periods on and off the field.
Chief executive Jamie Cox stated the renewal reflected a “shared belief in long-term growth, excellence and innovation.” He attributed the club’s recent achievements, including the 2019 Royal London One Day Cup and the 2023 and 2025 Vitality Blast titles, to the foundational support of the partnership. “This partnership has always been about more than naming rights – it’s built on shared values, mutual trust and a genuine commitment to our community,” Cox said.
The financial services firm, Cooper Associates Group (CAG), has itself experienced significant expansion since the partnership commenced. Founded in 2008, the company provides mortgage, wealth management, and accounting advisory services. During its alliance with Somerset, CAG has opened offices in Cheltenham and Bristol, grown its team by 96 employees since 2016, and earned national industry recognition, including being named “Best Mortgage Adviser in the UK 2025” at the ESTAs awards. Its philanthropic arm, the Cooper Associates Foundation, has raised over £160,000 for 45 different causes.
A Venue Transformed
The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton has been transformed into a globally recognised venue under this sponsorship. From hosting three ICC Men’s World Cup matches and a Lionel Richie concert to being the stage for women’s international cricket, the ground has diversified its appeal. Historically established in 1882 with a capacity of 8,500, it hosted World Cup matches in 1983 and 1999 and was declared the official home of English women’s cricket in 2006. In recent years, it has also hosted one Men’s IT20 international, two Women’s Test matches, five Women’s One-Day Internationals, seven ICC Women’s World Cup matches, and six Women’s IT20 internationals. Its atmosphere has been honoured as “The Best Atmosphere in the Blast” for three consecutive years.
Megan Barton, marketing director at Cooper Associates Group, said the company was “incredibly proud” to extend the sponsorship. “Over the past decade, both our organisations have experienced significant growth and celebrated meaningful achievements, yet what has remained constant is the strong alignment of our values,” she stated. The company’s commitment extends to individual player sponsorships, backing cricketers Tom Banton, Jack Leach, and the brothers Thomas and James Rew.
Nurturing Talent and Economy
The Rew brothers exemplify the talent nurtured at Somerset. James Rew, a wicketkeeper and left-handed batsman, became the club’s youngest double centurion in first-class cricket at age 19 and had scored 10 first-class centuries before turning 20. His brother Thomas, also a wicketkeeper, made his Somerset First XI debut at 17 and holds the record for the fastest one-day century for the England Under-19 squad.
Somerset County Cricket Club, founded in 1875 and achieving first-class status in 1891, has never won the County Championship but has been runner-up multiple times. It has a storied history of developing international stars such as Ian Botham, Viv Richards, and Anya Shrubsole. The club’s establishment of a fully professional Somerset Women’s team during the partnership period underscores its broader development ambitions.
The club’s economic footprint is substantial, contributing over £20 million annually to the South West economy and directly supporting more than 200 jobs. The direct economic impact of events at the Cooper Associates County Ground is estimated at £6 million.
Recent industry accolades highlight the partnership’s success. In 2025, Somerset CCC won the “Sponsorship of the Year” award at the Business of Cricket Awards (BOCAs), where the club’s marketing lead, Freddy Midgley, was named “Rising Star.” Somerset also received an award for “Best Development of New Facility (under £500,000)” for upgraded dressing room facilities. Furthering its community and environmental commitments, the club partnered with GB NRG in 2024 to install solar PV panels on the Andrew Caddick Pavilion.
Looking ahead, Megan Barton expressed excitement about the future, stating the partnership “reflects a mutual belief in ambition, integrity, and the power of sport to bring people together.” With the deal now set to span 15 years by its conclusion, both institutions are positioned to build upon a legacy that has redefined a historic cricket ground and fortified a key pillar of the regional economy.
