 Somerset County Cricket Club was formed in 1875 , and played irregular county fixtures in the years after that , during which time they struggled to remain financially solvent . Upon their formation , the club had no fixed home ground , and it was declared that they would play " on any ground in the county that may be selected by the committee . " However , in 1881 , they moved into the newly built Athletic Grounds in Taunton . Although it is widely accepted that Somerset 's debut first @-@ class match came in 1882 , some records do include earlier matches in 1879 and 1881 against Gloucestershire as being of first @-@ class status . 
