Rugby club's cash boost by Bishop Auckland councillors (From The Northern Echo)

Rugby club's cash boost by Bishop Auckland councillors

6:10pm Sunday 4th December 2011 in Bishop Auckland News

A POPULAR rugby seeking £160,000 to improve its training facilities has been given a £25,000 cash boost.

Bishop Auckland Rugby Club attracts close to 200 youngsters each week who train at the facilities on Bridge Road.

The club plans to double the size of its changing area from three to six rooms so it can cater for the demand.

A fundraising effort is underway already but the Durham and Northumberland League Division Two team has received a boost.

Councillors Sam Zair and Neil Harrison, who cover Bishop Auckland on Durham County Council, have stepped in to help.

The two have each given £12,500 to the club via their Neighbourhood budgets to help towards the money needs.

The funds were passed from the councillors to the club via the Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership.

Peter Gallone, the club’s development officer, said: "We’re going to extend the club’s changing facilities so we can cater for more youngsters.

"The total cost for the work is going to be between £140,000 and £160,000 as we are getting 200 youngsters to training on weekends.

"We’re very grateful to have been given this funding and we believe that it’s going to help a very worthwhile cause.

"We are working with the Rugby Football Union to try to raise funds for the work and we’re also fundraising ourselves."

The two councillors met with Keith Wilkinson, chairman at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club to celebrate the cash boost.

The club attracts young players for teams catering for four-year-olds up to the under-18 side.

The club also boasts three senior sides who play each weekend during the season and this adds to the need for extra changing space.

The improved changing facilities will mean that mixed age and sex groups are able to get showered at the same time.

The club also helps the young players to maintain a healthy lifestyle while enhancing their sporting skills on the field.

Bishop Auckland Rugby Club has also carried out improvements to the playing area’s floodlights.

The flood lights will allow the club’s players to train easier in the winter months.