Winter Sports Currently, the club play at the Webb Ellis
Road ground, and lease a second pitch from the cricket club adjacent the ground. “The club has been holding talks to secure funding, and looking at what land is available in the town to develop the facilities further,” enthuses Andy. “We have a fantastic opportunity to build a viable, modern rugby facility that can serve the community in more ways than one. We’ve given ourselves a timescale of five years to set up and bring to the table a brand new rugby club facility, offering a 30,000 seated stadium, with adjacent training facilities. The new complex may also, subject to planning permission, offer hotel and conference facilities, enabling us to bring in additional income. We are currently seeking promotion to National North Two and, if the success continues, hope to become a Premiership club in a few years time. The success of one is dependant on the other.” Both pitches at Webb Ellis Road are maintained by Sue Lacey, a job she has undertaken for several years. One of only a handful of female grounds managers in the country, Sue has been looking after the pitches full-time for the past three years, carrying on the good work of her late husband, Phil, who himself played for the club. She still retains the name of his business, Phil Hall Ground Services. “I used to run my own restaurant and coffee house in the town, called ‘Brookes’, but sold it twelve years ago before the birth of my youngest son,” explained Sue. “I wanted a complete career change, so started helping Phil with his grounds maintenance, working at local schools as well as the Rugby Lions. I started working on a part-time basis approximately ten years ago, and then became full-time in 2005.” “Phil taught me how to drive a tractor, operate gang mowers, mark out football and rugby pitches, athletics tracks, turf maintenance, cricket preparation; in fact, everything about the work, and even a bit of mechanics!” “When Phil sadly passed away three years ago, I didn’t think I would be able to carry on, or even cope but, with a lot of help and encouragement from friends and family, I decided to continue. It felt difficult at first, as many people didn’t think I would be able to do the work, being on my own and, dare I say, a woman!”
“I’ve had a lot of support and advice from James Mead, Rugby School’s Grounds Manager, and his help has been very valuable to me. I would go as far as to say I couldn’t have done it without him!” “Three years on, I feel I have proved to myself, and others, that I can do the job. It’s very challenging and hard work, but rewarding at the same time. I think it helps having a passion about doing a job well, I look back at a field I have just finished cutting, all nicely striped, and get a great feeling of satisfaction and pride.” “Keith Kent, Head Groundsman of
Twickenham RFU said, in a recent report, that I know what I’m doing and have a ’feel’ for the work involved. It is hard demanding work, and I do it mostly on my own, however, I now have some part time help from a very good friend of mine, Paul Baker, who is a fireman and helps me two days a
Sue Lacey
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