Shining light Prenton RFC want to do more
Prenton RFC on the Wirral has seen leisure pursuits in the area disappear and facilities demolished for housing development over the years as they have tried their best to fill an increasing gap for their community.
It’s an area where people need support, and the rugby club has been there to provide it over the past 65 years. They have hosted local groups, provided a community garden and nature trail, worked with neighbouring schools, and been a beacon as the lights went out in youth clubs and sports clubs. They recently raised over £15,000 for MND by through a Doddie Weir day.
Determined to do even more, they have been fund raising and, with £115,000 in their development fund, they have launched a Crowdfunder campaign aiming to collect a further £50,000 plus.
Their plans include a 3G all-weather pitch which they would share with other sports, new male and female changing rooms, a youth café, a club for over 60s, a social supermarket, a gym and more.
Matt Dawson’s family club
Someone who remembers being at Prenton RFC as a scrap of a boy taken along by his father, Ronnie, is England Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson. He’s delighted to support their campaign, saying: “What Prenton have already created is brilliant and what they plan to add is a fabulous area which will help them for ever transform the lives of everyone from all walks of life and of all ages.”
Prenton’s Brian Elkerton said: “We have been doing some fantastic work during the past few years, hosting community events and kids clubs, raising tens of thousands for charity, working with community groups, the Community Payback Team and more. We’ve been a hub in every sense of the word — bridging the gap in a massive way.
“We’ve just partnered with National Grid for a big conservation project here but we’ve been wanting to take the site to the next level for some time.
“We have backing from Wirral Council, Sport England and the RFU to develop the site and create state of the art facilities for the community but need the support of the general public to donate to our Crowdfunder and make this dream a reality.”
They’ve attracted support as well from another Rugby World Cup winner, Jason Leonard, who’s encouraging everyone to “get involved, be part of the team and help to create something very special.”
And RFU Chief Executive, Bill Sweeney, who’s a fan of the club and its work for the community and was a pupil at the local Birkenhead School for Boys adds: “They really are a great club. If I’m ever feeling in need of a rugby boost, or to know why we do what we do, I go to Prenton.”
Discover more here: Prenton RFC crowdfunder
