a b f t h e s o l d i e r s ’ c h a r i t y & h o n o u r a b l e a r t i l l e r y c o m p a n y p r e s e n t

The City Invitational Cup 2017c h a r i t y c r i c k e t m a t c h & g a l a d i n n e r

3 1 S T M A Y 2 0 1 7

t i c k e t s a n d c o r p o r a t e p a c k a g e s

The HAC, City Road, London ec1y 2bq

The EventFollowing its successful launch in 2016, the City Invitational Cup will return to the HAC in central London on Wednesday 31st May 2017. Mark Ramprakash – an accomplished Test cricket batsman with 114 first-class hundreds to his name – will be back to defend his crown as captain of The Soldiers’ Charity XI, with new challenger Simon Jones – one of England’s all-time fastest bowlers and Ashes winner in 2005 – taking the helm of the City Select XI.

The event will once again provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy an entertaining afternoon of cricket, followed by an evening of fine wine, delicious food and special guest speakers at one of London’s most historic and prestigious venues. Guests will include HAC members, senior military figures and influential professionals from the City of London.

All the proceeds from the event will go towards the HAC1537 Partnership – a charitable partnership between the HAC and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity – to provide a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families in times of need.

“It was a perfect day and both my team and our clients had a great time – we will be back!”James Savage, Barclays

Overview1.00pm Gates Open

2.00pm Match Starts

4.00pm* Afternoon Tea

6.00pm* Match Finishes

6.30pm Champagne Reception

7.00pm Dinner Starts

10.30pm Dinner Finishes

*match timings are approximate and subject to change.

The Match

◆ The Soldiers’ Charity XI will take on the City Select XI in an afternoon of live, T20 cricket for the City Invitational Cup.

◆ The teams will be captained by

former England cricketing stars Mark Ramprakash and Simon Jones, alongside players from the Army Cricket XI, the HAC Cricket Club and corporate guests.

◆ The match will take place on the HAC’s stunning, five-acre Artillery Garden, where guests will enjoy afternoon tea and refreshments.

The Gala Dinner

◆ Following the match there will be a gala dinner in the Prince Consort Room at the HAC, where the cricketing stars will join guests.

◆ The evening will start with a champagne reception, followed by a three-course dinner prepared by the chefs from Fare of London.

◆ A live auction will be held between the main course and dessert, with a spectacular range of money-can’t-buy experiences and prizes on offer to the highest bidders.

◆ After dinner, guests will enjoy an informal Q&A session with the cricketing legends and a talk from a special guest speaker (to be announced), as well as hearing from one of the Charity’s beneficiaries.

“Thank you for a great evening. It was an amazing venue and the soldier who spoke was very moving and brought home exactly what the Charity does.”Jane Doherty, RIFT Group

The TeamsABF The Soldiers’ Charity XIThe Soldiers’ Charity XI will be captained by Mark Ramprakash and include members of the Army Cricket Team and individuals and companies who have supported The Soldiers’ Charity over the years.

The City Select XIThe City Select XI will be captained by Simon Jones and include members of the HAC Cricket Club, City professionals and cricket enthusiasts working for companies in the Square Mile and beyond.

The Cricket Legends

Mark Ramprakash

Key Statistics

Major Teams: England, Middlesex, Surrey

Test Matches Played: 52

Highest Test Score: 154

First Class Matches Played: 461

Highest First Class Score: 301*

Biography

A supremely talented and technically proficient batsman, Ramprakash became one of the greatest first-class run-scorers of all time after beginning his professional career at 17. A truncated career with England (including a century against Australia in 2001) was contrasted with a period of sustained excellence at county level. After moving to Surrey from Middlesex in 2001, he rose head and shoulders above his peers, averaging over 100 in 2006 and finishing up his career in 2012 with 114 first-class hundreds to his name – joining an elite group of century-making centurions.

Ramprakash proved he is just as handy on the dancefloor as he was on the cricket pitch, winning the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball with his dance partner Karen Hardy in 2006. He dazzled the judges, viewers and former team mates with his moves, scoring a perfect 40 for his Salsa in the final. More recently he was awarded an MBE for his services to sport and in 2013 took up coaching roles with Middlesex and England.

Please give credit where possible to All Out Cricket for these statistics and biographies, and Getty Images and Portrait Collective for any images used.

Mark RamprakashA supremely talented and technically proficient batsman, Mark began his career at 17 and went on to become one of the greatest first-class run scorers of all time. He also proved to be just as impressive on the dance floor, winning ITV’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2006.

Former Paratrooper Alistair (Al) Hodgson was just 21 when he lost both his legs to an IRA bomb in Northern Ireland in 1992. Despite spending the next seven years in hospital being ‘pieced back together’, Al went on to become Britain’s first double amputee skydiver and won Gold in the National Championships. The Soldiers’ Charity provided the financial backing which helped Al further his skydiving career, and he will be sharing his remarkable story at the Gala Dinner.

Simon Jones After fighting back from a potentially career-ending injury in the 2002/03 Ashes series, Simon returned to devastating effect against the West Indies in 2004 before taking a central role as one of England’s standout bowlers in the historic 2005 Ashes victory.

Special Guest Al HodgsonA well-known personality will entertain guests with anecdotes and memories from their career.

To beannounced

Tickets & Corporate Packages

Individual Tickets Spectator Hospitality Ticket

£185 per person

• Includes entry to watch the match, afternoon tea & drinks package (beer, wine & soft drinks), and a place at the Gala Dinner.

• Gala Dinner includes champagne reception, three-course dinner with beer, wine, soft drinks and coffee

Gala Dinner Ticket

£150 per person

• Includes champagne reception and three-course dinner with beer, wine, soft drinks and coffee

Afternoon Tea Ticket

£50 per person

• Includes entry to watch the match, afternoon tea & drinks package (beer, wine & soft drinks)

Corporate Packages & Tables Spectator Hospitality Package

£1,700• Includes 10 x tickets to watch the match with your own

private table, afternoon tea & drinks package (beer, wine & soft drinks) for all guests.

• 1 x table of 10 at the Gala Dinner – includes champagne reception, three-course dinner with beer, wine, soft drinks and coffee.

Gala Dinner Package

£1,350• 1 x table of 10 at the Gala Dinner – includes champagne

reception, three-course dinner with beer, wine, soft drinks and coffee

Bespoke packages are available on request. Please note that tickets and packages are exempt from VAT.

ContactFor more details , information about bespoke packages and to book tickets please contact Bernie Critchley.

Email: bcritchley@soldierscharity.org

Telephone: 020 7811 3201

Website: soldierscharity.org/cic

Event Partners

The HAC1537 Partnershipin support of

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity