The County Championship returns to Chelmsford this weekend as Essex host Somerset in round two of Division One, looking to make it back-to-back wins after a dominant victory in the opening round.
Match tickets are still available to purchase in advance for this match and throughout. Entry is free of charge for Members.
Fans of all ages can also upgrade their matchday ticket to access The Doug Insole Pavilion and all Member seating areas for an additional £9 or The Scrutton Bland Premier Suite for an additional £20. Both upgrades can be purchased online where the price of the matchday ticket and upgrade has been bundled into one.
Tickets are available at the gate for £24, or at a discounted price if purchased in advance.
Adult tickets start from £18 whilst young adults/students can enter at a reduced price of £12 and junior’s for £10 - purchase a Junior ticket and you can apply for a FREE Junior Membership Upgrade for the 2026 season! Junior Membership includes free entrance to all home Rothesay County Championship and Metro Bank One Day Cup matches.
We do offer family tickets, providing groups of families a discount to come and watch the cricket at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
To purchase tickets, simply click here or call our Ticketing Office at 01245 254010.
Gates open at 10am on all for four days via the Main Entrance on New Writtle Street, the River Gate and the brand new 1876 Gate which will provide direct access into Central Park. The 1876 Gate will serve as a direct link between Central Park and the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground via Century Tower. Offering easier access to the ground from Meteor Way and Chelmsford Railway Station.
All bags will be searched upon entry to the ground. Please note that spectators are allowed to bring in one bottle of wine or champagne (750mls) or four cans of beer/cider (500mls each).
No glass allowed on entry.
Please note that all ticket collections will need to take place at the Main Gate.
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.
There will be an open ground for this match allowing spectators to walk around the whole concourse area at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground with access to the Club Store and other facilities.
Supporters who have purchased digital tickets can enter the ground by scanning the valid ticket once added to the ‘ECCC Wallet’. Instructions on how to access the app is included at the ticket purchase stage and can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Store and please download your tickets before arriving at the ground.
Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your tickets as that will not be read by the scanners and you may be refused entry.
Tickets can also be transferred to friends and family who also have the app to make entry quicker and easier. Follow the instructions within the app for an easy transfer around your group.
Ticket holders can sit in all areas of the ground for this match, except for the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower stands.
Toss (Day One): 10:30am.
Morning Session: 11am-1pm.
Afternoon Session: 1:40pm-3:40pm.
Evening Session: 4pm-6pm.
Close of Play: 6pm.
Rothesay County Championship cricket is part of the 2026 Membership and Members are required to scan their cards upon entry. All Members should have now received their 2026 Membership cards and it'll be necessary to scan an active 2026 Membership card to gain entry to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.
Seating is unallocated for Championship matches.
The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets and scorecards on the gates, plus food and drink purchases in The Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas.
Scorecards will be available to purchase for £1 in the Essex Cricket Store and on the River Gate via contactless payment. Cash purchases can be made in the Essex Cricket Store.
Accessible Parking:
Accessible parking spaces are located at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these cannot be pre-booked before visiting to provide an equal opportunity for all supporters.
Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Graham Gooch End of the ground and a wheelchair-accessible platform is located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.
Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. 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 Facilities:
The accessible toilets are located at the rear of The Doug Insole Pavilion as well as Block 31.
There is set to be pleasant weather during the match and we advise all spectators to take necessary action when sitting in the sun.
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 social media channels.
Follow our Social Channels:
X: /@EssexCricket
Facebook: /Essex County Cricket Club
Instagram: /@EssexCricket
Parking:
Parking is not available at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground or Meteor Way so please find alternate parking arrangements should you wish to arrive by car.
The High Chelmer multi-storey is a local alternate car park, please view opening hours and tariffs for city centre public car parks via clicking here.
The Meteor Way car park is available for Members to pre-book for all four days. Spaces are available on the day on a first-come first-served basis. We advise that Members pre-book for £3 as spaces are not guaranteed to be available on the day and the price of parking on the day is increased to £4. Meteor Way car park will close 30 minutes after the end of play. To book parking for Meteor Way, please click here and scroll down until you reach the parking section.
Public Transport:
Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections across the county. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, via New Writtle Street.
Chelmsford Railway Station, managed by Greater Anglia, is about a ten minute stroll from the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground. Direct train services depart regularly from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.
Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the lunch and tea intervals when instructed over PA or by steward. Please respect the playing surface and only use softballs - no footballs allowed.
Please be respectful of the Players and Match Officials areas and walkways. When moving across the Alastair Cook and Graham Gooch Ends, please be mindful of being in the batter's eyeline.
If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can text 'CROWD' to 60066, including your block number and stand.
Free Wi-Fi is available at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground for every matchday giving supporters the opportunity to access the internet and the Club’s live stream online. Simply logon to ‘EC-Public’ from your seat to access.
At The Doug Insole Pavilion, you can enjoy a diverse selection of hot and cold beverages from the bar, along with a variety of snacks for purchase.
Anne’s Pantry will be offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Graham Gooch End and Sir Alastair Cook End.
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 Spinners Bar, serving drinks and snacks.
Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture but please ensure all bags can be stored underneath your seat. Please note that spectators are allowed to bring in one bottle of wine or champagne (750mls) or four cans of beer/cider (500mls each). No glass allowed on entry.
At the conclusion of the day's play, 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 Ambassador Cruise Line Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on www.essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.
Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected].
Our live stream will be available to watch over the four days with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss on Day One, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.
