Skipton Rugby Football Club

The current economic climate has made its mark on sport throughout the UK. The recent struggles faced by Rangers FC, one of the most established football clubs in Scotland, highlights this.
If we look closer to home, Bradford Bulls’ recent difficulties have been the talk of Super League this season.
Amateur sport has also faced financial hardships comparable to their professional counterparts. With many local businesses suffering from the recession, much needed sponsorship is becoming increasingly scarce.
With Yorkshire being one of the hardest hit areas during the credit crunch, local sports enthusiasts are now venturing out less and less and sports clubs have suffered with all their income streams being reduced.
Despite these obstacles, the members of Skipton Rugby club have shown the kind of spirit and endeavour that will be needed to see the long established club through these difficult times.
On the weekend of 6th-8th July Skipton Rugby Club is hosting one of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world, the Norton Owners Club Annual International Rally. This means Sandylands will play host to 190 Norton motorbike enthusiasts during the three day event.
Newly appointed club president, Mel Mason describes the event as “the start of a new era of economic diversity for the club” Mason also adds “There are not many clubs in Yorkshire that can provide the facilities and spaces that an event of this magnitude demands”.
Skipton Rugby Club has been hosting events for many years now, but an event of this size has never been attempted before. With enthusiasts coming from Canada, USA and all corners of Europe, this event will prove to be one of the biggest Skipton Rugby Club has ever undertaken.
The visitors will be camping on the Club’s pitches, and using the clubs facilities throughout the days for food and merriment.
Mason attributes the pending success of this event to the clubs die hard devotees. “To host this at our Rugby Club is a credit to all the committee who have spent so many hours planning and the members who will be actively manning this event”.
Norton spokesperson, Bruce Senior, claims that “the professionalism and enthusiasm of Skipton’s representatives has been highly impressive, and really set Skipton apart from other would-be venues”
Senior would like to extend his warmest thanks to Skipton Rugby Club, and to the craven area, by inviting locals down to the club for the motorcycle judging competition on Saturday afternoon.
Skipton Rugby Club realises that in hard economic times to survive you must be ready to diversify. And by utilising it’s assets the Club can look forward to a bright economic future.