CRICKET: Essex have announced they will be playing at ‘The Cloudfm County Ground’ from the start of the new season after agreeing a new sponsorship deal.

A three-year agreement has been reached with the Colchester-based facilities management company, which will see The Essex County Ground completely re-branded and named The Cloudfm County Ground.

And Essex Cricket chief executive Derek Bowden said it is a deal that spells positive change for the county.

“Cloudfm have shown a real desire from the beginning to not only be a ground naming sponsor but to actively support us in our mission to delight members, supporters, players and our community,” said Bowden.

“This is an excellent partnership for the club and will see a large-scale local business come on-board and be part of an exciting future for Essex Cricket.”

And Chris Silverwood, Essex Cricket head coach, said he was thrilled to see a long-term partnership secured.

“This deal is a testament to the hard work of the commercial department and provides the club with a secure platform to move forward from,” he said. “Hopefully this is just the first piece of success in 2017.”

“The partnership offers us a fantastic opportunity to link up with a well-known sporting partner,” added Jeff Dewing, Cloudfm’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Our decision to sponsor the club is based on their strong links with the community, particularly in the development of facilities to encourage participation in cricket.

“This includes the women’s game, youth cricket and disability cricket.”