Before I start please accept my apologies, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that this event will not be going ahead and is going to be cancelled.

I have been trying/hoping to get this event off the ground as I am sure it would have been a great evening.However, with increase in prices for the necessary services etc. and a large number of people unavailable to attend, the costs were going to increase, we also missed out on an opportunity to have the marquee used on the Friday evening as the company involved have also cancelled their event.

I had priced the costings at 220 people in attendance (which we had originally) and use of the Marquee on the Friday evening and this meant that this event would be at no cost to the rugby club, however nearly 30 people have applied for a refund (including 18 in the last 2 days) due to a number of entirely understandable reasons, the main being:-

Concerns over a return/spike of COVID-19 as reported in press/news
Concerns over possible social distancing relating to COVID-19
Work commitments/Unavailability for the new date.

I have paid refunds to those people who have requested them so far and with the refunds, loss of non-returnable deposits and costs incurred with production of tickets etc. we will be able to refund all remaining people who have paid for their tickets £32 per ticket.

The cost to keep this event on would work out at £5 extra per ticket (on the basis of nobody else being refunded, however I feel that this is unlikely/unfair as a large number of the people who where going to attend originally where ‘Senior ex-players’ some of who have health concerns and I would prefer everyone to get some money back).

I hope you all understand the situation and do not reflect badly on Hartlepool Rovers, this was my idea, if anyone wants to contact me please feel free to on 07727940417 or via Facebook.

Please can you send me a text message with your bank account details and I can start sending the refunds out, if 1 person arranged a group booking can they please be the one to contact me and they can sort out refunds for people who were going to go on their table.

I know this is not ideal but unfortunately it is the best I can do.

Thank you for your understanding

Lee Saunders (Finbar)
07727940417