Reading RFC appeals for support to save club from closure
Reading RFC is attempting to raise vital funds to repair and replace its roof to ensure the club stays open.
The club needs to raise a further £150,000 in six weeks to further renovate the building after tests found asbestos in the roof.
It had already been fundraising for the roof for over a year, but recent bad weather has worsened the damage, making the renovations needed more widespread and more expensive.
The club has said it may close its doors forever if it cannot raise the funds.
Hayley Flynn, whose 14-year-old daughter plays for the club, said: “The club's been around for over 100 years and they were pioneers for both the women’s and mixed ability game.
“Reading was one of the first ever clubs to offer mixed ability rugby and has become a home to those players and their families. There’s a real sense of inclusion at the club."
The club has also been home to grassroots players and international stars alike, including Red Roses Alex Matthews and Abby Dow, Harlequins’ Ella Cromack, and Wales’ Carys Cox.
For Flynn’s daughter and her teammates, the club means far more to them than just playing rugby.
She said: “My daughter and her teammates live and breathe the game. There are so many things she gets from rugby that aren’t just scoring a try or winning a penalty.
“It’s given my daughter so much confidence in herself and it’s taught her how to be part of a group and also how to be respectful.
“Reading is a place where the girls aren’t focused on what they look like or who’s got what hairstyle, they’re just there to play and enjoy it.”
Donate and Share
To donate or share the fundraiser, visit their GoFundMe.
