As rugby fans eagerly anticipate the results of the next match in the RBS Six Nations, the people who sustain grassroots sport across England, understand that for it to continue to flourish requires heroic levels of commitment by local people, often away from the glare of the media’s spotlight.
Fearlessness and daring are traits long associated with rugby, and Tewkesbury Rugby Club has demonstrated these qualities both on and off the pitch to overcome the challenges of maintaining a club which has been playing rugby in Gloucestershire since 1881.
Tragedy strikes
Essential to the identity of any club, is a place to call home, a reference point which allows a club to establish its presence and establish a tradition rooted in the local community which local people are proud of. This became a priority, when tragedy struck in 2007 when the club house was flooded and Bram Lane aged 64, a man referred to as “Mr Tewkesbury RFC” and his son Chris aged 27 drowned as they were overcome by fumes when pumping flood water.
Determined to overcome this sad point in the clubs history, and under the stewardship of a strong management committee and the help of supporters, the club working with Tewkesbury Borough Council, the RFU, Big Lottery raised over £500,000 to implement a development plan for the club, the culmination of which was opening of the new changing rooms completed this year.
Phil Vickery (World Cup winner; British lion and ex England captain) and Dr Geoff Sallis TRFC Honorary Secretary of Tewkesbury Rugby Football Club open the new changing room.
Open door policy
As a community based club, the open membership policy that Tewkesbury Rugby Club operates has seen the club thrive.
As well as running 2 senior men’s rugby teams and an active veteran team, the club has seen significant growth in youth and ladies rugby with 4 teams playing at senior, U13, U15 and U18 level.
The development of the club has also resulted in the Tewkesbury Rugby Club being able to provide wider amenities to the local community including a running club, a recreational skittles club, and a venue for local cubs and scouts groups. The ground also hosts local school competitions.
Future of the game
Community assets
Tewkesbury Rugby Club has also followed the examples of other sports such as cricket and football by having their club listed as an Asset of Community Value. The fact that the club has nominated itself shows a real commitment to the living the values of a community club. What this means in practice is should the ground become available for sale, the group who nominated it will be notified of the sale, and have the opportunity bid to delay the sale for up to 6 months to raise money to bid to buy it.
(To find out more information on this scheme see below)
Opportunities
In England, there are thousands of sports clubs which are becoming more ambitious about how they plan for their own sustainable futures.
In Plymouth, Plymstock Albion Oaks rugby football club has successfully negotiated with Plymouth City Council for Horsham playing fields to be Community Asset Transferred to the club. This will allow Plymstock Albion Oaks to take over the management of a 22 acres site, giving them certainty about the future, and providing them with a platform that will enable them to attract investment. The club now have exciting plans to upgrade facilities, including extending the club house, and improving the changing rooms and pavilion.
If you are involved with your local sports club and want to follow the examples of Tewkesbury rugby club and Plymstock Albion Oaks, then there is advice and support available. (See below)
Clubs are the heartbeat of grassroots sport, the place where tomorrow’s rugby, football, hockey or tennis stars will be nurtured. So why not see how you can put your club in the spotlight by exploring the support and help which is available to ensure the future of your club
Funding, support, advice
The Department for Communities and Local Government has partnered with Locality to deliver the My Community website, which is the central resource for those seeking more information on community rights.
Sport England Community Assets Guidance
Community Assets Guidance
Sport England Flood Guidance
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/flood-guidance/
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