Cornwall and Devon cricket clubs are set to compete for the right to play in a dream final at Lord’s after learning their first opponents in the Voneus Village Cup 2024.

The draw for this year’s tournament has been held at the Home of Cricket ahead of the preliminary and first round matches next month, with more than 350 clubs from England, Scotland and Wales taking part.

Participating clubs from the two counties will face off against each other for the 2024 competition, with the winner of the regional tournament progressing to the national knockout rounds.

These stages will eventually lead to two lucky finalists to compete for prestigious Cup - which has been run by The Cricketer magazine since 1972 - at Lord’s on Sunday, September 15.

Cornish club Grampound Road came just short of reaching the final in last year’s tournament after being knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual runners-up Leeds & Broomfield, from Kent.

The 2024 Voneus Village Cup Community Legends Award, which recognises the village clubs up and down the country that are integral to their rural communities, will also run concurrently with the tournament.

Addressing the tournament’s entrants ahead of the draw at Lord’s, Voneus Village Cup ambassador and World Cup winner Lydia Greenway said: “The Voneus Village Cup has been a staple of rural sporting life across Great Britain for more than half a century – and this year yet again promises many more exciting twists and turns on the road to Lord’s, where two lucky clubs will grace the Home of Cricket in the final. I wish all teams vying for the title this year the best of luck.”

Lydia, who was also involved in four Ashes-winning squads during her England career between 2003 and 2016, added: “Once again, our Community Legends award will also celebrate cricket’s unsung heroes and the vital work village clubs do in bringing together the communities they proudly represent on the field.

Nominating your club only takes a moment and the competition launches today! And, for the winning club, there’s a Legendary End of Year Do waiting when the curtain falls on the 2024 season. Who knows, I might even see you there!”

Voneus Broadband CEO, Christopher Traggio, added: “Last year we had a tough decision to make after so many strong entries shone a light on the individual and team efforts that go into making village cricket clubs beacons of their communities.

“We’re so passionate about connecting rural communities and championing the team spirit village cricket brings both on and off the field, if you think your club deserves to be recognised, we want to hear from you. This year’s Village Cup competition is already shaping up to be better than ever, and we’re thrilled to welcome a number of new village clubs onto the road to Lord’s. Good luck everyone!”

“The Cricketer’s editor Huw Turbervill, who conducted the draw alongside the magazine’s managing director Jim Hindson, said: “It was a privilege as always to start each club on their journey from the hallowed Committee Room at Lord’s.

“For two lucky clubs this will culminate on a visit here to the Home of Cricket in September, and we can’t wait to cover every twist and turn of the 2024 competition between now and then.

“Thank you to both Voneus Broadband and Lydia Greenway for their continued support of this historic and wonderful tournament – and all the best to all the players and clubs involved.”

Unsurprisingly, Grampound Road have entered again and make the short trip over to fellow Cornish side Perranporth in round one on April 28.

Elsewhere in round one, Mount Ambrose head into Devon to tackle Yelverton Bohemians, while ambitious St Erme welcome Cornish rivals Stithians to Castle Field.

Gulval, Abbotskerswell, Constantine, Tale Millers and Roche have been given byes into the second round on May 12.

.Gulval will start as underdogs when they visit Perranporth or Grampound Road, while Mount Ambrose will face Devon opposition for a second time if they progress as Torquay-based Abbotskerswell are lying in wait.

Constantine will travel to the side victorious out of St Erme and Stithians, while the only confirmed second round tie at this stage sees Roche head to East Devon to take on Tale Millers.