Principal benefactor Dicky Evans has announced today a “Sunset Plan” that sees him phasing out his investment in both Cornish Pirates Rugby Club and Truro City Football Club (TCFC). His involvement in Pirates has been longstanding, and this was extended to TCFC when he took over the club from former owners in 2019.

TCFC are already in discussion with potential new investors, and the Board looks forward to a continuing strong relationship between Cornwall’s two leading professional sports clubs.

TCFC have been playing out of Cornwall at Plymouth Parkway for the current season and this will continue next season until the Stadium for Cornwall is available. The Stadium has planning permission and the Stadium Board has formally written to the Council to release its £3m funding in order to start ground works and ensure TCFC are able to play in Truro in the 2023/24 season.

Players, staff and shareholders were informed of this announcement at a meeting earlier on 15th March.

Dicky Evans said: "People assume I am only a rugby supporter but I have always been a keen football fan too. First and foremost I am a Cornishman and when the plight of Truro City was brought to my attention in 2018 I wanted to help if I possibly could. It has been a privilege to support them, and I am delighted that new investors are interested in building a strong future for the club.

Richard “Dicky” Evans, O.G.W*

International entrepreneur, agri-businessman, hotelier, sportsman and philanthropist, Dicky Evans left the UK as a young man, captained Kenya and East Africa rugby teams, founded, built and sold a substantial flower farm business in Africa, founded the 5* Hemingways Hospitality resort company and for the last 27 years has been the main benefactor of the Cornish Pirates Rugby Club based in Penzance, Cornwall, the town of his birth, and latterly, Truro City Football Club, the only professional football team in Cornwall.

*The Order of the Grand Warrior, Kenya

For media interviews with Mr Evans please contact:
sally.pettipher@rgre.company +44 (0)7889 601004

For media interviews with Cornish Pirates and Truro City representatives, please contact: phil.westren@cornish-pirates.com +44 (0)7817 998879

Interested investors should contact Mr Evans’s Chief of Staff:
sally.pettipher@rgre.company +44 (0)7889 601004