Woodland Group extended their association with the Club earlier this year and will remain a Principal Partner, with Vitality Blast Shirt Sponsorship and Sponsorship of both the Pavilion and Premier Marquees at the ground for the next two years.

The 2024 season had several standout moments across different formats. Essex was deeply involved in the County Championship title race, showcasing their resilience and competitive edge in red-ball cricket. Essex provided a strong performance during the T20 Vitality Blast, although the narrowest of losses to Hampshire in the final fixture ended hopes for a Quarter final qualification. The season saw the emergence of promising young players in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup – in particular, Luc Benkenstein, Noah Thain and Robin Das.

The Essex Women’s team held an equally strong defence and ended their 2024 season after an impressive performance against Kent, finishing fourth in Group 3 of the Vitality County T20. Next year will see a brand-new professional team representing the county in Chelmsford.

Meanwhile, the Essex Kestrels triumphed at the Super 9s National Final with a memorable 137-run victory. The team finished top of the Super 9s South-East Regional group with five wins from six, going on to win the entire competition in style.

Over the years in partnership with Essex Cricket, close knit relationships have been established through aligned brand values, encouraging involvement with local communities such as The Panathlon Foundation and The Trussell Trust. In 2024, Woodland introduced the ‘Young Eagle of the Match’ campaign, providing opportunities for junior fans to win a T20 shirt and the chance to meet the Woodland Player of The Match to bring together fans and players alike.

Off the field, Essex Cricket have also been working on cultural changes and infrastructure improvements, as well as continuing to modernise their facilities at Chelmsford. The long-standing relationship between Woodland Group and the Eagles has witnessed several memorable moments on and off the pitch, and allowed Woodland Group and Essex Cricket to continue to make a positive impact together, through connecting and assisting the wider community and furthering youth engagement.

Woodland Group Chairman & CEO, Kevin Stevens, said: “It was another great season for Woodland Group partnering with Essex Cricket. Together with the team, we've enjoyed days out, hosted clients, partners, and suppliers, given back to the community, cheered, laughed, felt the excitement and team spirit, and launched our "Young Eagle Of the Match" programme, which brought so much joy to so many. We are proud to be a sponsor of the team, and to have had the opportunity to renew this partnership, encouraging youth engagement in cricket and beyond the pitch."