Clubs gearing up & gathering funds
Rugby clubs throughout England have been preparing to reopen with clubhouses spruced up and fundraising a priority.
Enfield Ignatians RFC, determined to survive the coronavirus epidemic, met the Sport England Crowdfunder requirement of raising £2,500 from 25 club supporters and were awarded £2,500 in matched funding.
With the London Two club’s supporters digging deep and their target of raising £10,000 within reach, they decided to extend the finish line to £15,000. Having set off with a survival strategy on June 13 an August deadline of achieving an amount that will really make a difference seems achievable.
Club Treasurer Rob Bruce said: “With our sponsorship streams in jeopardy, we were looking at a sizeable shortfall in our budget next year. We needed other avenues and the fightback effectively began with us signing up to the Crowdfunder scheme.
“We take pride in being a community club and with 400 adult and 200 youth members we run four senior and a dozen mini and youth teams. The physical and mental wellbeing that rugby clubs like ours provide is really significant and I know clubs across the country are fighting to make sure we continue to support our communities in these difficult times.”
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/eirfc-covid-fightback-fund.
Worthing reaching 100
Worthing RFC will celebrate their centenary on 10th September while, like many others, facing unprecedented financial challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With The Rugby Park’s 23.5 acre site to maintain and other costs to meet, they usually support rugby for more than 20 teams, from minis to adults. Having lost months of revenue they launched a centenary appeal, which has already brought in £5,500 and volunteers have been at the club working on facilities for free as teams return to training under current regulations.
Said the club’s Chairman of Commercial and Finance: “We, like all community clubs, are facing challenges with lost revenues and sponsors also affected by coronavirus and many only just coming out of lockdown.
“We’ve had confirmation from some sponsors but, with no firm start for rugby, it’s hard to give marketing opportunities. Members and players are certainly helping but, while we will have a celebration on September 10th, many that were planned will have to wait. This is a massive time of reflection on how we keep clubs sustainable going forward.”
Blaydon RFC, having been promoted from Northern Premier League to National 2 North, are struggling, like other community clubs, after all their planned events were cancelled. After applying for available funding, they launched their Crowdfunder appeal and are approaching £10,000 of their £15,000 target.
Said club treasurer and academy coach Keith Robinson: “Like all clubs we rely on events to plough money back into our rugby and with those all cancelled it was about surviving.
“We asked our members to help and had a great response. We get three or four senior teams out and have a very successful youth system and girls’ teams at U14 and U15. There’s always lots going on and our England Rugby AGP has been a fantastic success.
“We have reopened the bar at weekends, there’s training pods on the pitches and huge enthusiasm to get back to rugby. Our car boot sale is a good earner and just coming back, so hopefully our revenue streams return as soon as possible.”
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/blaydonrugbyappeal
Paviors family affair
Paviors RFC in Nottingham roped in their entire rugby family to get the club ready for a return. A family picnic was a thank you to many who’ve rolled up their sleeves. The beer was on the club but they raised over £200 for the NHS from donations.
With their centenary in a couple of years, Club Historian Phil Barton put aside his literary efforts to clean and decorate alongside son Alex, a first team player and Midlands Premier League Player of the Season. First Team captain Doug Billam manned the jet washer, while Director of Rugby Pat Billam, wife Sue and son Doug who’s first team captain joined the clean up. Director Duane Broddell supplied materials and his truck to gather debris for a bonfire and groundsman Roni Rusdale, with his wife Joy, who’s also academy team manager, and academy player son Tom pitched in too.
First team prop Adam ‘Big Dog’ Sterling provided front-row power helping groundsman Tom trim and tidy the grounds. Recently appointed Paviors Secretary and Board Member Chris Eggleshaw and his wife Joy got stuck in as did Paviors Seconds Manager Rob Seven and son Elliott, who plays for the Firsts. Such is the power of children that minis player Max Shaw roped mum Elizabeth in, her deep clean of the loos rather less fun than her usual catering role.
Lending a hand were a family new to the club, Mollie Ted and Matt Benner and said Paviors Chairman Graham Turner: “What a great effort from our Paviors family old and new. Everyone wants the club to succeed and remain at the centre of our community. More social events are planned and fundraising to make sure we carry on the good work.”
Burpee brigade
Huddersfield RUFC’s head coach Gareth Lewis launched an online call for players and members to do as many burpees as possible in two minutes and raised over £3,500.
A general call for donations to keep the club afloat then raised over £25,000 and many members have been volunteering to help out with practical tasks. With an RFU £10,000 interest free loan and a Yorkshire RU grant of £3,000 to upgrade showers, times are looking less tough.
Said club Chairman Mark Birch: “We have several other sports hosted at Lockwood Park and all are affiliated members of Huddersfield RUFC. We are very much a community hub and without a shadow of a doubt our players and members have been doing us proud. We are delighted with the level of support.”
