Winter Sports - Rugby Union
Ted Mitchell explains how other rugby clubs can gain access to RFU funding
“We have a very open and transparent process. It is very simply managed on a county basis by constituent bodies who make decisions on an annual basis. It is constantly reviewed throughout that twelve months via a county facilities plan. That achieves two things; one, it keeps and up-to- date audit of facilities to keep things going forward. So, for example, to keep things moving forward, a club may say they need a set of floodlights. So the facilities plan will incorporate that. Then the second part is to prioritise for funding and support and, again, that is done in a very transparent and clear way.”
Firstly, a club needs to contact their rugby development officer; all their details are on the RFU website. Depending on what the initial enquiry is, he’ll point them in the right direction. If it’s a relatively well advanced project, they may need technical or funding support, and this would involve the facilities manager. If it were more fundamental issues, it would be the rugby development officer.
During all the steps through the process there is support available. Whether it is simply to support the head groundsman, or it ends up requiring our agronomist, floodlighting contractor, architect or someone to speak to about leasing, we will somehow help them through that.”
“There are two funding streams available; one is through the Rugby Football Foundation. They provide small grants up to £5,000, but also significant interest free loans up to £100,000. And that amounts to £1m a year available in interest free loans.”
“The second funding scheme is our capital investment programme, which is where you would see the larger grants being identified and invested. At the minute that is funded through the RFU themselves and it comes under the World Cup lead up and legacy programme. Through that programme, there are capital grants available for a range of facilities; pitches - both natural and artificial turf, changing rooms, training areas, lights, social spaces and so on. These grants are up to £100,000 so, typically, what you may see in any scheme would be a mix of a loans from the RFU, a capital grant and some club fundraising.”
“Whether it is a relatively small £5,000 grant or a larger £100,000 requirement, the RFU has a very simple way for clubs to get funding delivered.”
30 PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014
The RFU’s Head Groundsman, Keith Kent, has prepared a pitch report ...
They performed a cut and fill to achieve pitch levels, along with installing a primary and secondary drainage system for both the senior pitches. Both pitches were also fenced; they have been absolutely outstanding.”
The scheme was completed in the summer of 2009 and the pitches were opened in 2010. “As you can see around us, it has had a significant impact on the club,” enthuses Jim Knowles. “We now have two additional full size pitches, a ‘midi’ pitch and a training area. We are now all based on the same site and are reaping the rewards; membership numbers have gone from being very strong to going through the roof!” “The scheme has gone extremely well,
from our point of view,” says Ted, “which is as we would expect with the involvement of PSD and quality contractors. We demand very high quality pitches and the challenge for us now is to ensure that those pitches maintain that quality down the line.” “What we have also been able to do is involve the RFU’s Head Groundsman, Keith Kent. He has been to the site and prepared a report for the club, so that they can use that to maintain standards and also benefit from someone working right at the top of the game. The club has really bought into that.”
“We’ve also ensured that they have put the right amount of funding into the maintenance programme. We have the RFU pitch improvement partnerships, which is, effectively, an aeration solution. The RFU have fifteen tractors and heave action Soil Relievers that are available for hire, sited at various clubs around the country. Lymm’s local one is based at nearby Warrington RFC.” Jim and the grounds team make use of the Soil Reliever two or three times a year to tie in with Keith’s maintenance plan. “The beauty of the scheme is that it is really down to the club and their drive and commitment to it,” says Ted. “It’s RFU capital investment and expertise up front, but the crucial thing is that, long term, it’s about making sure the pitches are high quality and support the club in player recruitment and retention.” “Lymm has become a somewhat iconic club now, and I remember it being rather amusing,” recalls Ted. “It was the first big loan that I wanted to sanction, and I had to officially present it to the trustees. So, I am at the Navy Club in London with the trustees and they asked how the club were going to repay the loan. I stood up and said, “they are going to have a pantomime”. I got some strange looks I can tell you. Obviously, I
Containers are used to store machinery
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