Winter Sports First XV match in progress West 3. The club also enjoys a vibrant 400-
strong Junior section membership with mini and youth rugby from U7 to U18 represented in local leagues. The girls contingent is growing too, with three teams that currently stride out, attracting players from as far as Worthing on the south coast to compete in competitive fixtures. Proof of their success with youth development is the club’s newly forged links with Harlequins. Pulborough is now
an official satellite club, with the Premiership outfit running popular training clinics in the summer for the last few years - another feather in the cap. The potential for revenue generation
from fine clubhouse facilities can be significant and, in this climate, extra income is always welcome. For Jim and Alex, though, it’s about more than just money. “We do hire out facilities, and the clubhouse is popular for weddings and birthdays, as well as wakes, but we insist that only members can hire it,” says Jim.
MAKE SURE YOUR GROUND IS FROSTPROTECTEDTHIS WINTER
“Too much love, money and effort has gone into getting to where we are now. We wouldn’t want to jeopardise that by extending the use of the clubhouse to non-members who might not share the same sense of ownership and pride.” Kevin has a “healthy” four-figure annual maintenance budget to work with, but that is largely for purchasing turfcare materials - machine hire and renovations are mainly sponsored through the generosity of Harwoods. Each of the three pitches cost £32,000, and nearly a fifth of the total overall sum was set aside for renovations and landscaping. Despite the project progressing at the peak of the economic cycle, the committee displayed some excellent examples of how to do things right, gaining access to as many funding avenues as possible by sourcing national, local and niche sectors. Jim offers a few words of warning to
any prospective clubs. “The Biffa and Viridor grants were a vital source of revenue for us, but there was a lot of paperwork involved. You need to have an active membership, willing to help out wherever it can,” he cautions. “We were fortunate that one of our members had actually studied this side of the legal process, so we were able to make more sense of it,” Jim continues. “Also, once the money has been granted, the process doesn’t stop there. All grants are monitored and managed by Entrust,
With over 30 years experience in manufacturing, Stuart Canvas is the UK’s leading supplier and manufacturer of ground protection products for pitch and training grounds. All our products are manufactured at our Warrington factory under strict quality control management and are designed to provide the best protection against rain, frost and debris.
Due to the increasing severe weather conditions last season many games across the UK were abandoned. We have recognised that sporting clubs and associations require adequate protection against the elements at short notice. Covers can be produced as ’flat sheets’ or as an ‘Inflatable tube’ system and by offering a made to measure service on all our covers we are able to
Call us today on 01925 814525 or visit
www.stuartcanvas.co.uk Unit 6, Hardwick Grange, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 4RF | F: 01925 831709 | E:
sales@stuartcanvas.co.uk
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 PC 47
advise on the best solution for your grounds.
• FROST • FROST GERMINATION • RAIN • PLAYERS TUNNELS • SAND BAGS
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