A letter to our supporters from CEO Sally Pettipher

Dear Cornish Pirates supporters, shareholders, sponsors and season ticket holders,

Many of you will be aware that The Mennaye felt the full force of 100mph winds when Storm Goretti hit Penzance on the night of Thursday 8^th January. We are all thankful that there are no human casualties and that the damage to The Mennaye while severe, can be repaired.

At first light on Friday, teams from Cornish Pirates and from Penzance and Newlyn RFC reviewed the damage. The grandstand roof was shattered with roofing debris spread across the site. Changing rooms, toilets, floodlights, signage and seating are all affected. While we currently have power, a tree has fallen against the main electricity cable to the site.

On Friday morning the insurers, our Health and Safety officer, Cornwall Council and the RFU were notified. By Friday evening the at-risk areas of the site were fenced off and on Saturday specialist contractors moved in to collect and dispose of debris.

The RFU are coming for an inspection later this week. Our next home game is Sat 24^th January against Ampthill. The contractors believe that they can make the site safe by then, so we are planning to play our next fixture at home, albeit without a roof on the Tribute Grandstand.

The timeline for replacing the roof is not yet known. The level of storm damage across Cornwall will stretch the capacity of the companies needed to rebuild people’s homes and businesses alongside ours.

We have been inundated with offers of support and we thank you for your kindness while hoping that the insurance will kick in and do what is needed.

Where you really can help is by coming to our matches, come again, bring your friends and family, wear the kit, wave the flags, shout Give us a P, and sing Cornwall my Home. That is what fires up our team, and that is what makes every match so special. You are what makes it so special.

I look forward to welcoming you all and thank you again for all your support.

Sally