Essex Cricket and First Bus East of England are thrilled to announce a new partnership, marking the beginning of a vibrant collaboration between two community-focused organisations.
In celebration of this partnership, fans travelling to The Cloud County Ground on Thursday 20 June for the Vitality Blast match against Hampshire Hawks can enjoy free travel by using a special code that will be provided to ticket holders by the Club ahead of the match.
This date coincides with Clean Air Day, the UK’s largest campaign to tackle air pollution, underscoring the importance of sustainable transport options.
Every bus journey contributes significantly to reducing road congestion and pollution, with each bus capable of taking up to 75 cars off the road.
As part of the partnership, First Bus will be prominently displayed across Essex Cricket, including a new pitch-side advertising board, with a focus on the £2 single fare that can be used in Essex.
Additionally, First Bus will support Essex Cricket in the Community by sponsoring the flagship Mini Matchplay event in August, as well as many other community initiatives to be announced, demonstrating their commitment to nurturing local talent and community involvement.
Daryl Townson, Commercial Manager at Essex Cricket, said: “Partnering with one of the country’s best-loved transport operators is a really exciting time for the Club.
“One element of our partnership will be the branded Essex Cricket bus that fans will be able to catch around Chelmsford in the very near future.
“As a Club, we take sustainability very seriously and we are excited that First Bus are offering our fans free travel to our fixture on Thursday 20 June, which is also Clean Air Day. We want to encourage those visiting our ground to leave the car at home and use the bus instead.”
Piers Marlow, Managing Director of First Bus East of England, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Essex Cricket.
“This collaboration represents a shared commitment to our community, promoting sustainable transportation and supporting local and regional sports.
“Together, we aim to make it easier for fans to attend matches, help the Club and its fans reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute to the vibrant sporting culture in Essex.”
First Bus is one of the UK’s most well-known public transport operators, running more than 4,500 buses across the country and facilitating 1.1 million passenger journeys every day in 2023.
In Essex alone, the company operates over 50 routes, making it a cornerstone of local public transportation.
Ticket purchasers for Thursday’s Vitality Blast match against Hampshire Hawks will receive their unique code in the pre-match pack sent on Wednesday. This will enable users to redeem free travel bus bus to and from the match via the First Bus mobile app.
