Big community effort needed to get new Spalding RFC ground ready

Community support is being sought in the final push to relocate Spalding Rugby Football Club’s 200-plus strong youth teams to its new ground in time for the new season in September.

On Saturday (May 13), the decommissioning of the junior teams’ temporary base at Jack Tyrrell’s Yard, in Low Fulney, will begin with the removal of portable buildings and floodlights to the new ground in Drain Bank North. HGVs and as many helpers as possible are needed to help with the move.

Martin Beecham, club chairman, said: “It’s all about providing facilities for the youngsters coming through and we would reach out to anybody who is community minded and wants to see local sports clubs succeeding.
“It was a tough choice to relocate away from the town centre, but having made that decision a lot of people will be very happy to see us taking this first step.
“A lot of work has gone in from a lot of individuals and many people have put their time and effort in. We feel a lot of gratitude towards those people.”

In 2013, Spalding Grammar School notified the club there was no longer capacity for youth teams to continue using Memorial Field in St Thomas’s Road. The school-owned site has been home to the senior team for 60 years.
The senior team will continue to be based there until funds can be raised for a clubhouse at the new ground. That is expected to cost around £500,000 and be around five years in the future.

Much voluntary work has already gone into preparing the new ground.
Volunteers will meet again on Saturday at Tyrrell’s Yard to decommission facilities in readiness for moving. It is hoped the process can be completed on Saturday, May 20.

The £135,000 relocation project costs, including laying roadways, creating a pitch that meets correct standards and installing utilities at the site, are being met through fundraising, plus grants and loans.
Social events, raffles, a club lotto and donate a brick scheme are among the fundraising schemes.

 

Anybody able to get involved with helping the move – perhaps an HGV driver with a suitable vehicle – or who can support the rugby club in any other way, is asked to call Martin on 07796 191663.