Cornish Pirates

24th December 2008

From Dicky

Christmas 2008 overseas and thoughts for me turn to Cornwall, home and especially the post match singing at home games with the Cadgwith Singers bringing a lump to the throat as they lead us with this great Don McLean classic.

Win or lose, over the last few years Pirates supporters new and old make sure life is for living and having a fairly high level of rugby to watch on your doorstep [whether you are east of Truro or west of Newlyn] before a good old fashioned Cornish singsong and party in the bar has become "de rigueur" and a way of life for many people during winter months. It doesn't get better as far as I am concerned.

This newsletter is the first of a trilogy over the next three weeks intended to apprise our supporters who have the Cornish Pirates well being and future prospects close to their hearts, of our intentions with respect to strengthening our finances and building on the support we have.

For me, it has been a decade of learning the ropes of professional rugby, making many mistakes, believing in people I shouldn't have but constantly being amazed and impressed by new friends and supporters for whom I have great respect.

Yes, we would like a large squad… Yes, we need better kickers… Yes, I would like to take more than one or two people aside, especially the odd belligerent, anti-development councillor, and let them know they are letting down the Cornish folk… Yes, I wish there was realism from many commentators on what are the costs of running a fully professional squad in the southwest of England… Yes,…I could fill a book. But I am not writing this to mull over the past and deliberate on what we have achieved or not achieved.

This is an introduction in broad brush terms of the plans we propose to ensure the Cornish Pirates becomes more reliant on all of us, not just myself, for our future well-being as a Championship Rugby Club and as a step in the journey to bring Premiership rugby to the Duchy.

In a nutshell, this season the Pirates' income generated from 16-18 home games plus our valued sponsorship brings in 50 percent of the money that is required to run a fully professional squad and management team.

We lost a major sponsor in Flamingo last year when that business was sold and we have been badly let down this year by a new sponsor but I must make it clear at this point that this was not Kevin Heaney of Truro City FC, with whom we still have dialogue for the future.

So what are we proposing? We intend to address the financial challenge by raising funds through various initiatives as follows:-

• Primarily, an 'inner sanctum' known as the First XV comprising 22 supporters only who in return for sponsorship of £5000 per annum per person will have access and inside knowledge to the club, on a confidential basis, interfacing with the management and especially myself and Rod Coward on a continual basis. Apart from some tremendous other key benefits the First XV will have its own direct mail shots on confidential matters. These people will have an influence in the running of the Pirates.

• Also included each season will be a dream holiday drawn amongst the 22 members for two weeks at Hemingways Resort in Kenya fully paid and including airfares.

• Secondly, the Pirates Champions Club will be formed, comprising up to 250 dedicated, passionate Pirates supporters who'll have the chance to showcase their support and work as ambassadors of the club and get much more from their passion. Apart from some major benefits related to the games, Champions Club members will meet twice a year with the Cornish Pirates directors and twice a year with the Coaching team. The whole package will cost £2000 per person per annum.

• For every 50 members of the Champions Club, there will also be an annual draw for a dream holiday at Hemingways Resort, Kenya.

• Finally, plans are also in hand for a Pirates Buccaneers Club, which will provide predominantly game related benefits.

However, there is one major change.
A new Pirates website is being designed, which will provide the club news as it appears on the current website with a much more hard-hitting confidential forum specifically developed for true Pirates supporters.

All members of the First XV, the Champions Club and the Pirates Buccaneers will have access to this site through their own passwords and in addition, for a monthly fee of £20 with a minimum subscription of one year all other true Pirates supporters will participate in the website.

The current website will continue to have general information, match reports and provide sufficient information to all web users but for the inside track the new website will be dedicated to Pirates supporters. The present link to the fanzone will be closed on the existing website.

More in a couple of weeks…

Here's to beating Exeter on Saturday.