Work starts on rugby club revamp

23 November 2009

WORK has begun on a £200,000 development at Clevedon Rugby Club.

President Mike Thomas has cut the opening sod at the Southey Road headquarters to mark the start of a project to build new changing rooms and extend the clubhouse.

The work is expected to take 20 weeks to complete before an official opening in April.

It has all been made possible by the club's own fund-raising efforts along with a £155,000 loan from the England RFU in conjunction with Sport England and the Rugby Football Foundation, who have provided half the funds.

As well as the revamped clubhouse and changing rooms, there will also be a new physio and medical room, a referee's room and a brand new kitchen.

Club secretary and general manager Paul Squires said: "The ladies have been serving out of a cubby hole for years so they will be lost in the new space.

"We are also extending the bar area as that has always been a bone of contention after the matches."

The refurbishment of the clubhouse also means a new skittles alley can be created.

This will allow the club's current ladies' skittles team, Rugby Belles, to play at the club rather than at the nearby football club as it does now.

The men's team, The Ruckers, will also be reformed.

The new alley is already helping to raise additional cash for the club as companies and individuals have the chance to sponsor a plank of the decking as well as becoming one of the club's major sponsors.

Founded in 1921, Clevedon RFC has a first team playing in the South West 1 West league.

The club also boasts second and third teams, colts, as well as mini and junior sides for children under six through to those under 17.

* Over the August Bank Holiday weekend next year, the club will stage a reunion when it is hoped more than 400 former players will turn up.

Any former players who want more details or anyone interested in joining or supporting the club can find more details on the clubs website www.clevedonrfc.co.uk