This from HUST:
The 50/50
draw has raised nearly £44,000 for HFC since the creation of the club. “It’s a
significant achievement”, says HUST chairman Richard Tomkins. “The
50/50 draw has been hugely successful and is the principal reason why
supporters now own 100,000 shares in Hereford FC. Every £2 of 50/50 tickets
purchased buys HFC supporters one share in the club.”
As a thank
you for their hard work in rain and shine the HUST Board is sending all 50/50
volunteers to the forthcoming Sportsman’s Evening event next month. “It should be great night”, said
Tomkins “and we hope they all thoroughly enjoy it. They certainly deserve
it.”
The success
of the draw established by HUST has been down to the generosity of supporters
and the hard work of the team of wonderful volunteers led by Mike
Langford. As a longstanding HUST board
member and also one of HUST’s Football Club Directors, Mike says: “Upon the creation of HFC I led on establishing
the 50/50 draw so HUST could build its shareholding and support the delivery of
the successful community club voted for by 97% of HUST Members. I've been lucky
to work alongside a team of dedicated ticket sellers who give up their time
before every match to sell tickets. All proceeds raised through the draw are
used for share purchase and go directly to the club”.
The 50/50
draw is a key part of HUST’s fundraising programme which aims to reach its
share target of £289,000 needed to make the club 50% fan owned by March
2020. With the addition of new
fundraising streams including the new Bulls Lotto, a planned re-launch of the
Prize Bull and a number of live events HUST is currently on schedule to meet
this target. The biggest contribution to
HUST funds however has been provided by the 50/50.
“As the club are aware maximum share
purchase is absolutely central to HUST’s ambitions” said Tomkins “and the 50/50 draw is central to our share purchase fundraising. Much
is said about HFC being a community club and the co-operation between the club
and Trust in the running of the 50/50 is a great example of a community club in
action.”
The 50/50
draw is run by HUST and operated under the Trust’s lottery licence. Tickets are
sold in and around the ground on match day with the permission of the club and
HUST invests all proceeds from the 50/50 directly in the club in the form of
share purchase. HUST has been handing the proceeds of the 50/50 draw over
£10,000 at a time all season to swell the club coffers.
As all the
proceeds from the draw are used for share purchase there is no VAT or
corporation tax payable by the club on any of the money which makes it an
extremely efficient method of raising funds. It is also a great way for
supporters to win big prizes with over 170 winners and in excess of £40,000
given out in prize money over the last two seasons.
So, the next time you are at a game and see one of our hard
working 50/50 ticket sellers please dig deep. Not only will you be in with the
chance of winning a cash prize, but you will be helping Hereford fans build a
successful community club and for that we are grateful to you all.