Thursday 30 July, 12noon, Wath-upon-Dearne Rugby Union Football Club, Moor Road, Rotherham S63 7RT

CASH BOOST FOR GRASSROOTS RUGBY IN THE DEARNE VALLEY

The Dearne Valley’s only rugby union club has received a cash boost of almost £65,000 to improve facilities and help encourage more players to try the sport.

Wathe-upon-Dearne Rugby Union Football Club will use the £64,705 grant from The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) to build an extension to its existing clubhouse in Wath Park. This will provide disabled toilets and access, separate shower and changing rooms for referees, and dedicated female shower and changing rooms for the increasing numbers of women and girls at the club.

Housing Minister and Wentworth MP John Healey will join CRT Chair Peter McNestry and officials from the club on Thursday 30 July (12 noon) to celebrate news of the grant which will benefit the 200 playing members and the wider community.

John Healey MP said: “As soon as I heard Wath rugby club was seeking funding for new facilities I gave them my full support. The club is an integral part of the Wath community and has been committed to supporting young people for many years. These new facilities will be of great benefit to the Dearne Valley community.”

The premises provide an important facility for the local community, hosting Wath Morris Men, South Yorkshire Police Drug Awareness team, Wath Folk Festival and other local events and activities. Meetings of the South Yorkshire Rugby Clubs Committee and Wath Wood Hospital are held at the Clubhouse and Wath Comprehensive School use the facilities.

CRT Chair Peter McNestry said: “Rugby clubs are often at the centre of our communities providing sporting, social and healthy living benefits. It's important to give people decent facilities so that clubs like this can remain a focus for the community and give players, both boys and girls, a great grounding. We hope the improved facilities will encourage many more players from this area into the sport.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors
• The CRT is dedicated to social and economic regeneration of coalfield communities throughout the UK. Since it was established in 1999 the Trust has awarded grants of over £150m to projects that have improved the quality of life in the UK’s coalfields regions.
• However, the CRT is not just a grant-making body. It also provides advice and support to community and voluntary groups to help them confirm their eligibility for funding, define their needs, create practical solutions, and seek funding from a variety of different sources.
• For further information, visit www.coalfields-regen.org.uk

• Wath-upon-Dearne Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1930 and is affiliated to the RFU (Rugby Football Union in England) and complies with RFU regulations on management and facilities. It runs four senior teams and five junior teams, the junior players including girls and there are 10 qualified junior coaches. There are approximately 200 playing members and a considerable number of social members including parents and family of the juniors. The Club is an active member of Friends of Wath Parks, Wath Community Project and the Area Assembly and works closely with South Yorkshire Police, local councillors and MPs and Rotherham MBC. The three home pitches are located in Wath Park.