Friday nights under lights return to Chelmsford this week for the visit of Hampshire Hawks in the Vitality Blast.
The match will round off the opening week of the Eagles’ which has included three fixtures.
New For 2023:
• Head to the new ‘Level Head Bar’ located behind the Doug Insole Pavilion before and during play. Our new bar area is in partnership with Greene King and your opportunity to soak up the atmosphere ahead of play in the company of our live musicians who will be performing throughout the build up to the match.
• Fan Wi-Fi is available at The Cloud County Ground for every matchday giving you the opportunity to share photos and videos of your Eagles experience. Simply logon to ‘ECCC-Public’ from your seat to access.
Gates Opening Times:
The entry gates to The Cloud County Ground will be open from 5pm via the Main Entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate, which is the closest entrance from Chelmsford City Centre and Chelmsford Bus/Train Stations.
Spectators are advised to arrive early to make the most of your matchday and allow you time to locate your seat.
Scheduled Hours of Play:
Toss: 6:30pm
First Innings: 7pm – 8:15pm
Interval: 8:15pm – 8:30pm
Second Innings: 8:30pm – 9:45pm
Matchday Tickets:
Tickets for this fixture are sold out and will not be available to purchase on the gates.
Matchday Purchases:
The Cloud County Ground is a cashless ground, which includes all food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas.
Find out more – here
Please note that the Essex Cricket Store is the only location on-site which accepts cash payments.
Accessibility:
Accessible parking:
Spaces are located at The Cloud County Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating is located in The Kenton Group Stand (Hayes Close End) and in Block 1 of the Tom Pearce Stand Lower for this game.
Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge and must be arranged in advance. This is upon the presentation in the Membership & Ticketing Office or on the gate with proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16 years old.
We can also accept a Blue Badge and Access card.
Accessible Toilets:
Wheelchair accessible toilets are located behind the main scoreboard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).
Ahead of Your Visit:
In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, please keep up to date with the prospects of play via the Club’s Twitter and Facebook channels.
Please note that the Prospect of Play phone line is no longer in use and all updates will be available online.
Travel:
Parking:
• Spectators travelling by car will need to locate a public car park in the proximity of the ground as there is no parking available on-site at The Cloud County Ground.
• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open and closes at 11pm for this fixture.
• Meteor Way will be open for Members from three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis. This car park will close 30 minutes after play has concluded.
Public Transport:
• Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the County. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ground, via New Writtle Street.
• Chelmsford Railway Station is operated by Greater Anglia and is an approximate 10-minute walk from The Cloud County Ground. Regular direct train services depart from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.
Please note that there will be a disrupted train service on Friday due to a train strike. For further information and to view the revised timetable, please visit Greater Anglia – here.
Ground Entry:
Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate. Please enter through the gate nearest your seat location.
Members:
• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid ticket and Membership card. This area accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.
General Public Seating:
• Supporters who have purchased tickets can enter the ground by scanning the QR on your tickets that has been sent to you via email following your purchase. If you choose to print out your ticket, please ensure that the match details (including name and seat details) are included as per the image below. Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone or printed out so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your QR code as that will not be read by the scanners.
• The Eagles Area is unallocated seating, which are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
• In the event of rain forecast on the day of the match, spectators can bring a small umbrella into the ground but metal spiked umbrellas are not permitted.
Around the Ground:
• Spectators are not permitted to enter the field of play during a T20 match.
• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway.
• The Club Store and Membership & Ticketing Office will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.
• Scorecards will be available for £1 on the entry gates or from the Club Store for cash or card payment.
• If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloud County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or text ‘RESPECT’ including your stand and issue to 60066.
Food & Drink:
• The Food Court is located in the blue area of the ground by the Essex Cricket Store which includes hog roast for this match.
• The Level Head Bar is new for 2023! This new area in partnership with Greene King brings you live music and beer garden vibes to enjoy before and throughout your evening with us.
• The Doug Insole Pavilion will be welcoming Members through its doors and serving a wide range of hot and cold drinks from the bar. A choice of snacks will also be available to purchase.
• Anne’s Pantry will be offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Hayes Close End, River End and will also be operating a Food Court outside the Essex Cricket Store.
They will be serving a range of meals suitable for all dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as children’s portions.
• Other refreshment kiosks include bar areas located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinner’s Bar.
• Spectators are not to bring in alcohol for Vitality Blast fixtures. However, food and non-alcoholic beverages are allowed providing there is no glass or sharp objects such as cutlery.
• Please note that The Cloud County Ground is now a cashless ground for 2023, so please make sure you bring a suitable method of payment for your visit.
Leaving the Ground:
At the conclusion of the game, we ask spectators to leave the ground in a safe and patient manner. Stewards will be on hand to help direct you safely out of the ground.
We hope you have an enjoyable visit to The Cloud County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.
Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected] or via the Club’s official Twitter and Facebook channels.
Watch The Action On the Move
Our Live Stream will be available for spectators with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary from Simon Ward and George Harper Jr.
Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.
