England cricketer Mark Ramprakash will be returning to the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) on 31st May to lead a special charity T20 match in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Mark will be returning as the victorious captain after leading the Soldiers’ Charity XI side to victory in the 2016 City Invitational Cup.
Joining Mark will be Ashes hero Simon Jones who will captain a City Select XI side. The match will be played at the HAC’s Artillery Gardens in the heart of the City of London as part of HAC1537 – a charitable partnership between the HAC and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Following the match will be a gala dinner and a Q&A by held the cricketers.
On returning to defend the Cup, Mark comments: “It was a great day last year, a tight match but obviously the best side won! I’m looking forward to leading a strong Soldiers’ Charity XI out again and retaining the Cup – and putting a few runs past Jonesy.”
Simon Jones, who was part of the famous 2005 Ashes winning England team, adds: “The Charity does so much for the men and women of our Army, so I am more than happy to smash Ramps team and take that trophy off him, all in the name of charity of course!”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Robin Bacon, Chief of Staff ABF The Soldiers’ Charity adds: “We had a wonderful match last year and a great turn out of supporters. We are looking forward to this becoming set in the Charity’s calendar of events. Keen cricketers can even take part in the match and help raise much needed funds for the Charity.”
The event last year raised more than £18,000 for the HAC1537 Partnership.
In the galas dinner that follows the match there will be a chance for guests to hear from a number of speakers including the cricket legends, a Soldiers’ Charity beneficiary and a special guest speaker, and a chance to bid on a spectacular range of money-can’t-buy experiences and prizes on offer in the auction.
Find out more and get your tickets to the City Invitational Cup Cricket Match and Gala Dinner.