Hull Ionians Needs Your Help!

Aim

Hull Ionians RUFC are seeking to raise money to save the club from the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and prepare for a reopening.

Hull Ionians Needs Your Help!

Since the beginning of lockdown our Club has had to cease all of its sporting and social activities, resulting in a significant financial hit. We are now calling on you - our wide community of players, members, supporters and friends - to raise funds for our Covid-19 Relief Fund. 

Much of our usual income over the Spring and Summer period comes from being able to host summer sports and fun days, as well as social events and functions, such as weddings, festivals and parties. Over the last few years these events have been vital to raise funds for the rest of our season. But because of the lockdown we have so far lost £160,000 of income from cancelled bookings. 

This is why we have put together a crowd funding campaign to raise funds for a Covid-19 Relief Fund. We hope that our community of players, members, supporters and friends can rally together and lift the Club out of its current financial uncertainty by helping to raise the ambitious sum of £10,000 within 6 weeks.

In an effort to make a real difference to our Club, we have enlisted the support of CrowdFunder to reach out to our wide community of supporters and friends through their crowdfunding website platform. 

Please let all your friends and families know about this CrowdFunder page, including the many that no longer live in our area, but who enjoyed attending and playing at the Club over the years. 

Let’s show what a great sporting community Hull Ionians is and help the Club through this difficult time.

Bike Ride & Pizza Party on the Pitch

Please join us on Sat 22nd August. Click here for more info

Who We Are: A Brief History

Hull Ionians has been the centre of a community for generations. It has survived two World Wars, produced world class Rugby talent, and has provided everyone involved with many, lasting memories.

An Overview of Our History  

Hull and East Riding rugby club is the first of our ancestor clubs, formed all the way back in 1875. This club was renowned for being one of the top teams in Yorkshire, and helped to develop several International Players, the last of which was Roger Sangwin, who played for England in the 1963-64 season.

The second of our ancestor clubs is Ionians RUFC, which was set up back in 1926. To this club we owe our unique location and premises, which, being situated in the East Riding, has allowed us to have a vast catchment area, attracting players from East, South and West Yorkshire, from North Lincolnshire and from Hull.

The club that stands at Brantingham Park today is the result of a merger in 1989. Since then, we have found consistent success, beginning in the North One division and reaching the heights of National One.

Despite the changes to our club's name and location, our ethos has never changed. We still remain committed to our values, which we can summarise in three words:

1. Community 

2. Opportunity

3. Inclusion (but more on this later).

Caption: Schools community rugby day at Hull Ionians.

Why Should You Help? 

It is difficult to overestimate the value of our rugby club in our community. 

What seems to be merely recreational on the surface has a real effect on the lives of everyone involved. Sport improves your mood, your concentration levels and your sleeping habits. It reduces stress and depression. It has links to leadership traits and, most of all, it brings people and communities together. 

We cannot be more emphatic about the last point. Many of us that are part of Hull Ionians will say that we are not just a rugby club, we are a family. In fact, for many of us, to be without our club would be unthinkable. 

Our unique catchment area attracts people from East, South and West Yorkshire, from North Lincolnshire and from Hull. It is a place where Public School and State School kids come together. It is a place where all are welcome: regardless of ethnicity, upbringing, gender, social status, religion or nationality.

This is made abundantly clear when you consider the diverse variety of sports teams that use out facilities. 

Without Hull Ionians, our local community would be without: 

• 4 adult male teams and 1 adult ladies team.
• 12 youth teams, including 2 girls' teams.
• A 1st Team ranked in the top 36 rugby clubs in the country.
• One of the largest and most successful youth sections in Yorkshire. 
• Grounds for local primary and secondary schools. 
• The Hull Roundheads: the only gay and inclusive Rugby Union team in our region.
• The Hull Ionians Coal Exporters Cricket Club, which itself has two youth teams and some 50 members. 
• A local ladies' Rounders team with 20 members.
• An established social membership of over 600 people, many of which are ex-players or the friends and families of ex-players. 

Caption: The annual Hull Ionians summer rounders tournament held in memory of the late Alison Gaunt (2019).

What Will The Money Be Going Towards?

The funds raised through this crowdfunding initiative will go towards ensuring the financial sustainability of our club during the COVID-19 crisis, and onwards as we exit this difficult period. 

With the cessation of all sporting activities and the closure of our clubhouse, we have lost over £160,000 (to date) in income since the start of lockdown. We urgently need funds to keep basic services running and to prepare for the re-opening of our clubhouse. This includes:

• Ground maintenance. 
• Essential repairs to the club's infrastructure. 
• Replacement of equipment. 
• Reducing the debt accrued due to the forced closure of our premises.
• A social media marketing campaign to help relaunch the club after the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Additional safety measures to satisfy the governments ruling on effective social distancing. 

There is real uncertainty with regard to how quickly we can get back to normal. 

We want to ensure that when we do begin to welcome back players, spectators, club members and visitors, we are prepared with a safe and enjoyable environment for all. 

Caption: Hull Ionians U13's - proud team photo at the end of the 2018/19 season. 

What Will You Get In Return? 

In recognition and appreciation of everyone that donates a minimum of £25 to our cause, we are giving you the opportunity for your name to appear on our 'Board of Honour'. 

This will hold a prominent position in our clubhouse, and it will memorialise all of our friends and members who have helped us through this difficult time. 

As well as this, we have many great and exclusive rewards available to claim whenever you make a donation. This includes the following prizes, which can be won by taking part in our £10 Raffle:

Please note: there is only one reward per donation/donee.

What should you do next?

Don't forget to spread the word! Make sure that all of your family and friends know about this site. Don't be afraid to share our effort on social media. And, most of all, please contribute (no matter how small, all donations will be really appreciated).

100% off all donations will go to our club, and our club only. 

This project successfully funded on 1st September 2020