What is Affiliation?
Affiliation is the formal process through which a club becomes part of the organised cricket community supported by the ECB, the national governing body for cricket in England and Wales. The Cheshire Cricket Board Affiliation Package outlines our commitment to supporting affiliated clubs in achieving their development goals. To affiliate, clubs are asked to accept the Terms and Conditions of Affiliation and pay an annual fee, which provides access to a wide range of benefits, including:
- 1-2-1 Club Support from the Board's Development & Coaching Officers
- Free attendance at networking and information events include Club Development Forums
- Subsidised and/or free places on ECB Umpiring Courses
- Support towards ECB Accreditation (formerly Clubmark) and the Safe Hands Management System
- Support to establish, develop and maintain a thriving Women’s and Girls' section
- Advice around facility development and access to the County Grants Fund (subject to eligibility) and Funding Workshops
- Eligibility to participate in senior and junior competitions organised by Cheshire Cricket
- Membership of the Cheshire Association of Groundsman (CAG) and access to the County Pitch Advisors (CPAs)
- Dedicated support around ECB National Programmes, including All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket
- Access to safeguarding resources and support from the County Safeguarding Officer
- Opportunities to Reward and Recognise club volunteers through the ECB Cricket Collective Awards
How does my club affiliate in 2026?
Clubs are required to confirm acceptance of the Affiliation Terms and Conditions by 31 March. The T&Cs include a self-declaration against eight key commitments, completed via each club’s Play-Cricket site. Full details of the process are set out in the ECB Club Affiliation Guide. In addition, affiliated clubs must continue to meet the following criteria:
| Regular (monitored) attendance at Club Development Forums | Opportunity to access information and share best practice with other local clubs |
| Promotion of CCB and ECB initiatives including #GetSetWeekend and the Cricket Collective Awards | Volunteers and officials are upskilled and celebrated |
| Completion of the annual Participation Tracker (return by 31st December) | CCB can better understand the health of each club to enable tailored support |
| Please be aware that if the T&Cs or the additional requirements are not met, this may affect a club’s affiliation status | |
How much does my club need to pay?
Affiliation fees range from £25 and £75 per year, depending on the number of senior (adult) teams the club has registered within the calendar year.
- Clubs with one senior team - £25
- Clubs with two senior teams - £50
- Clubs with three (or more) senior teams - £75
For clubs competing in the Cheshire Integrated League Structure (CCCL, CCL), the annual affiliation fees will be collected via their respective league. For all other clubs, payment should be made upon receipt of an invoice from the CCCC Treasurer.
Looking ahead
From 2027, affiliation will move to an evidence-based process, requiring clubs to demonstrate compliance with basic governance standards. These standards include: enrolment on the Safe Hands Management System; having a club constitution; holding a bank account in the club’s name; having held an Annual General Meeting within the last 12 months; and maintaining the appropriate levels of insurance. To support clubs through this process, the ECB has developed a Club Affiliation Toolkit containing a range of supporting resources.
Associate Membership
If your club / team is based in Cheshire and would like to receive support from Cheshire Cricket Board, but cannot meet the conditions and requirements of Affiliation as set out above, then you may wish to apply for Associate Membership