The recruitment drive for the 2020 Cricketer Village Cup is now in full flow. If you’re a new club looking to enter, take in this guide to give you a feel of the competition.

What is the Village Cup?

The Cricketer Village Cup is a 40-over tournament played on alternating Sundays throughout the season. Round One in 2020 will be played on May 3. All dates can be seen here. The tournament culminates in a showpiece final at Lord’s in September.

Who can enter?

The competition is open to clubs situated in a village of no more than 10,000 inhabitants. The full list of rules and eligibility criteria can be viewed here.

What is the format of the competition?

This is a knockout competition with a Wimbledon-style draw made in February to determine the draw for the 32 regions, which span from Scotland to Cornwall.  The national rounds begin at Round Five where an effective north v south final takes place at Lord’s.

How many wins gets a club to Lord’s?

Depending on the size of the region entered, a team has no more than eight games to play before a dream Lord’s final.

What is the match format?

Matches are 40 overs per side, scheduled for 1pm. Eight overs per bowler are allowed. Full match rules can be viewed here. Umpires, teas and balls are provided by the clubs.

How much does it cost to enter?

The only requirement to enter is that the club must hold a subscription to The Cricketer. You can subscribe here.

How does a club enter and when is the deadline?

Entries are open until January 31 2020. You can enter here.

How can clubs stay up to date with the competition?

The Village Cup website nationalvillagecup.com is the home of the competition’s news, fixtures and results. You can follow the competition on Twitter @TheCricketerNVC and on Instagram @villagecup. You can register to receive updates on the Village Cup by signing up to the Village Cup newsletter here.

Any other questions…

If you have any other questions about the Village Cup you can email nvc@thecricketer.com or call 0203 198 1352.