Elmbridge Eagles RL

In March this year, we were awarded £3000 from Elmbridge Sports Legacy Fund for repairs to our roof and ceilings. To date, we have not been able to claim the money, as the work required, exceeded the amount granted.

In April this year we received a cheque for £1500 from the Bruce Wake Foundation to help set up a Wheelchair Rugby team.

In July this year we received a cheque for £1585 from the Co-op to help fund a Wheelchair Rugby Team.

The Wheelchair project has been held in abeyance because we were deeply involved in two other projects.

The first one was the Olympic Car Parking site, which we have been in meetings and discussion since January.

The second one was for Sports England Inspired Facilities funding. This was capital desperately needed to improve and modify our clubhouse. In turn the council will issue a new 25 year lease once the works have been completed.

Although we learnt of the outcome several weeks ago, there was a press embargo in force until today. Enclosed is what will be released by the RFL today.........................................

Elmbridge Eagles receive £50,000 facilities grant
Surrey-based Elmbridge The funding will pay for re-wiring of the electrics, restoration of the roof, new double glazing windows for the front of the club house to conserve electricity and improve appearance as well as rebuilding work on the toilets and Match Officials room.
Elmbridge Eagles Chairman, Charlie Tavener said: “For many years the club facility has been held together by dedicated volunteers’ sweat, spit and BlueTac.
“The Sports England Inspired Facility Grant has certainly "Inspired" our club. To date, all our worthy efforts and fund-raising have been funnelled into the black hole aka the clubhouse.
“Now we will be able to concentrate all our time and effort into our teams and our focus will be on attaining Club Mark Gold. Likewise, we are keen to introduce specialised coaching to develop our existing teams and coaching staff.
“Ebony Blake and Dan Steel from London RL have been immense in their support and guidance in this process.
“This funding will certainly be the beginning of taking the Eagles to new heights.”
Ebony Blake, RFL Regional Development Officer for the South East said: “Securing this funding for Elmbridge Eagles is a great achievement for all people involved. The funding will enable the club to not only revamp their clubhouse but also has given the club security of tenure to ensure that that the Oaken Lane facility will be a Rugby League club for years to come.
“The long term lease attained through the facility upgrade, sees Elmbridge Eagles become the second club in London, South East and East regions with its own facility, an achievement that cannot be overlooked.”
Elmbridge Councillor, Jan Fuller said: "The club does a wonderful job for the Community and in particular our young people. The grant from Sport England is a public acknowledgement of this. I do hope that the club will continue to go from strength to strength."
The Elmbridge Eagles Rugby League club redevelopment project is one of hundreds of projects across England benefitting from lottery investment through the second round of the Inspired Facilities fund.
Places People Play is being delivered by Sport England, working in partnership with the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) with the backing of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the London 2012 Inspire mark.
LOCOG Chair, Seb Coe, said: “This is a fantastic funding project that will deliver a real legacy from the London 2012 Games. It will provide a whole range of sporting opportunities for young people through improved facilities and will I hope inspire them to take up sport”