Essex Cricket launch the Metro Bank One Day Cup Campaign with Help for Heroes fixture at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford.
August has welcomed the Metro Bank One Day Cup, with eight action-packed group-stage fixtures – four of them at home during the school summer holidays.
All remaining fixtures at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in Chelmsford are available at discounted prices when purchased in advance.
A standout fixture in this year’s competition is the Help for Heroes Day on Sunday 24 August, when Essex Men host Gloucestershire Men. As part of the Club’s ongoing partnership with Principal Partner Ambassador Cruise Line, the match will support Help for Heroes, the charity dedicated to supporting veterans and their families.
Help for Heroes provides a range of physical, mental and welfare support for veterans and their families, from any branch of the UK military; regulars or reserves, irrespective of length or place of service and locally embedded civilians who worked under the command of UK Armed Forces. The charity also actively campaigns for lasting improvements to the support available for veterans.
To mark the occasion, the Essex Men’s team will wear a limited-edition Help for Heroes commemorative shirt, specially designed to raise awareness and funds for the charity. Ambassador Cruise Line have kindly supported the cause by funding the shirt branding as a donation.
The day will also feature themed activities, fundraising opportunities, and recognition of Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
The commemorative shirt will also be worn by Essex Women on Thursday 4 September when they return to action in the Metro Bank Women’s One Day Cup, following The Hundred. The fixture against Hampshire Women at Chelmsford is one of the final matches of the domestic campaign and reflects the Club’s continued commitment—alongside Ambassador Cruise Line—to supporting Help for Heroes across both men’s and women’s cricket.
All shirts will be auctioned via ‘MatchWornShirt‘ with all proceeds going to Help For Heroes. Replica shirts are available to purchase at the Essex Cricket Store and online but only while stocks lasts. Click here to order your limited edition shirt!
Dan Feist, Chief Executive of Essex Cricket, said: “We are proud to support Help for Heroes and shine a spotlight on their work during two of our Metro Bank One Day Cup matchdays.
“Ambassador Cruise Line have been fantastic supporters of the charity in recent years, and hosting these dedicated Help for Heroes Days will be truly special occasions for the Club.
“The Metro Bank One Day Cup is always a summer highlight, especially with our Men’s fixtures taking place during the school holidays.
“In recent years, the competition has given many of our young talents a platform to shine at First Team level. It’s been exciting to follow their progress, with several now playing key roles across all formats. We look forward to another strong campaign in 50-over cricket.”
Offering year-round no-fly cruises departing from the UK and a fly-cruise Caribbean programme from Winter 2025/26, Ambassador has been a Principal Partner of the Club since 2022 and signed a three-year extension to their partnership last April.
In February this year, the Club announced that the home ground for all Essex Men’s and Women’s matches will now be called the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, courtesy of a multi-year agreement with the affordable quality cruise line.
Headquartered in Purfleet, Essex, its homeport is located at the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury, just 19 miles from the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Remaining Metro Bank One Day Cup – Essex Home Fixtures:
• Wednesday 20 August (2pm) – v Glamorgan Men
• Sunday 24 August (11am) – v Gloucestershire Men (Help for Heroes Day)
• Thursday 04 September (10:30am) – v Hampshire Women (Help for Heroes Day)
• Saturday 13 September (10:30am) – v The Blaze
All matches take place at Chelmsford’s Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, with advance ticket discounts available now at essexcricket.org.uk.
About Ambassador Cruise Line
Ambassador Cruise Line launched in 2021, offering the UK market authentic no-fly cruises, affordable quality and the warmest welcome at sea. Based in Purfleet, Essex, Ambassador provides adult-only experiences combined with a selection of multi-generational itineraries to multiple destinations including the Nordics, Greenland, Iceland, Canada, the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Africa.
The cruise line’s first ship, Ambience, entered the fleet in May 2022, operating from her home port of London Tilbury. From the 2023/24 season, guests have sailed on board Ambience as well as Ambassador’s second ship, Ambition, whose maiden voyage in May 2023 heralded the launch of sailings from eight regional UK ports: London Tilbury, Newcastle, Dundee, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, Falmouth and Portsmouth.
With the addition of Renaissance to the fleet following the merger of Ambassador Cruise Line and French cruise operator Compagnie Française de Croisières in January 2025, marking the creation of a leading European affordable quality cruise line for the silver market, the company is now offering a fly-cruise Caribbean programme from October 2025 through March 2026 operated under ATOL license 12713. For more information, visit www.ambassadorcruiseline.com
Men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup Returns This August!
Essex Cricket is set for an exciting summer as the Metro Bank One Day Cup returns this August, bringing four home fixtures at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. All home games will be played during the school holidays at Chelmsford, with discounted tickets available when purchased in advance.
Tickets are still available via our Ticket Site, so visit now to to take advantage of your discount and support the Eagles this summer in the 50-over competition.
