As part of a Government and Sport England initiative and in preparation for the ECB Whole Sport Plan, ECB asked County Boards in 2005 to identify a number of cricket clubs with Junior Sections which were best placed to help implement the ECB National Strategy. Focus Clubs would receive priority in most areas of funding and other support from HCB and ECB, and in return would have a crucial role to play in securing ECB funding for the Board. 

As over 200 clubs are affiliated to HCB, it was evident that we could not assist every club. The HCB wrote to clubs with junior sections asking them to accept or decline the invitation to become a Focus Club.  As a result 37 clubs were originally identified as Focus Clubs, and there are currently 34 - some clubs having been unable to meet their agreed commitments.

It was decided to provide dedicated CDO support to each Focus Club, but as it is not possible to do this for all 34 clubs every year, this support is being phased over a four year period. Up to now 23 clubs have been included in Phases 1 to 3, and the remaining clubs are currently receiving support as part of Phase 4. 

Each year ECB funding is awarded in two parts - the Fixed Fee payment,  based on successful delivery by the Board of an agreed Action Plan, and the Performance Related Fee payment, of which a crucial part is delivery by Focus Clubs in five key areas - Participation, ClubMark accreditation, Membership, Coaching roles, Volunteer roles.
Focus Clubs not only need to deliver but also to ensure that their performance is recorded on the ECB's County Board Management System, which provides ECB with the facts needed to maintain and increase their funding sources.