Crossword Genius

Male remains with it - it's something a club has? (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

membership

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'something a club has?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'male remains with it' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'remains' becomes 'embers' (remains of a fire).
'with it' becomes 'hip' (I've seen this before).
'm'+'embers'+'hip'='MEMBERSHIP'

'it's' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for membership that I've seen before include "For everybody in organisation" , "body" , "What a joiner gets" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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