Winter Sports - Rugby Union


1st XV pitch from the clubhouse


£48,000.” These new projects come on the back of


extensive improvements over the past ten years that have included; new floodlights around the training pitches in 2003 thanks to a £30,000 RFF loan, pitch maintenance equipment and machinery shed (£30k in 2003 via an RFF loan), replacement floodlights on the 1st XV pitch (£50k Sport England Inspired facilities grant), drainage of training pitches by Turfdry in 2012 (RFF grant of £40k plus £10k of the club’s own capital) and upgrade of the kitchen in 2009 at a cost of £12k, which was part grant funded and part club funds. Clearly, John is something of an expert


when it comes to sourcing funding, and it should be remembered that the club is run for the benefit of the wider community. This year, they will host their first rock concert as well as the annual town gala. New technology has improved the


groundsman’s lot in the past ten years, but John believes that the industry, in general, is underrated in terms of its contribution to sport, with the possible exception of golf and Premiership level stadia. In recognition of his work, John was


awarded Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year in 2013 and, in typically humble fashion, dedicated his award to his club’s volunteers and committee, whilst also


The pitch is hired out for football ... while the clubhouse needs a new roof


thanking the RFU for their investment. RFU Head Groundsman, Keith Kent, was


full of admiration for John: “This is an outstanding achievement and is richly deserved by John. I hope this award shows our other clubs how much can be achieved through grit, determination and a lot of aeration! The RFU and the whole of Cumbria can be very proud of John.” And is there anything else on John’s wish


list? “Someone to take over from me and a better club tractor. The geriatric volunteer drivers are very stiff when we finish a day’s work hunched up on our tractor.”


PC APRIL/MAY 2014 I 53


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