YORKSHIRE County Cricket Club has reported record operating profits for the year 2019.

Last year saw Headingley host the third Ashes Test, four ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures and a One Day International against Pakistan.

These matches helped Yorkshire to deliver earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of goodwill (EBITDA) of £6,451,000, an increase from £515,000 in the previous year.

Catering and pouring rights reverted to Yorkshire in 2019, another significant contributor to the financial success, producing a revenue of £611,000 in the first complete year.

Paul Hudson, Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Director of Finance said: “This has been an exceptional year financially, which has delivered a significant impact on our funding.

“The results are due in large part to two specific events that occurred during the year.

“Firstly, the staging of four World Cup matches generated a one-off receipt of £1,000,000 that was distributed to all first-class counties, together with payments to stage four matches of an additional £600,000.

“In addition, we received a small bonus on successful delivery. We were also able to sell a large volume of corporate hospitality for the matches and generated strong pouring rights income.

“Secondly, the Ashes was undoubtedly the standout financial highlight of the year, generating £4,700,000 in ticket sales, bolstered by another £1,900,000 of corporate hospitality revenue and pouring rights income.”

These profits have enabled Yorkshire to make debt repayments of £3,800,000 in 2019 and £5,600,000 over the last two years combined.

A record year has given Yorkshire the ability to reduce the net debt to £18,340,000 from its year end peak at December 31, 2016 of £24,636,000.

Hudson added: “The ability to repay debt over the last two financial years has marked a long-awaited return to reducing the debt and hence interest burden that the club has built up, with the purchasing of the ground, and development of facilities.

“In summary, from a financial perspective, this has been a significant year for the club. We have made inroads into debt repayment and now have a platform from which we can move forward in a managed way.”