W3ST 3G Facility Update

Dear Member

Over the previous couple of years I have been keeping you up to speed with the on-going effort and plans to bring about an all-weather (3G), multi-sport, floodlit training facility at Whiteshawgate in conjunction with the Dynamos Football Club. You will recall that a separate entity was set up to run and manage the 3G facility (called W3ST) and on-going fundraising efforts behind the scenes have been relentless for some 3 years now. We set a target of £650,000 to ensure we had sufficient funds to enable us to make this fantastic facility a reality.

I am very pleased to tell you that the required funding target has been reached enabling W3ST to begin the building of the 3G facility. That said, there will be continuous efforts to raise funds to provide for the on-going maintenance of the facility and in this regard can I remind that there are still areas of turf left that you can ‘buy’ in support of the upkeep of the facility. All monies are very welcome indeed!

We have also created and put in place the necessary legal controls and procedures to ensure the rugby club maintains its separate identity and that it’s continued development as a rugby club is protected. The next key step going forward involves a final sign-off with the preferred contractor on the final costs. I would remind all members that should there be any increase in costs for the build of the 3G pitch that this will not be the responsibility of Strathaven Rugby Club – we are an entirely separate entity with no obligations in this regard.

A key question was always going to be when the best time to begin this project was. Our hands were somewhat tied by the fact that a substantial amount of our funding would be lost if we did not start this year. So, our plans are to begin the work in September once full and final sign-off on the contract has been achieved. This would mean we should have a superb new state-of the-art training facility to begin using at some point in January not long after we return from the Christmas break. Our shared access with the Dynamos will mean that we (SRFC) will be able to train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, every Saturday up to 4:30pm and alternate Friday evenings.
Clearly, this will involve significant degree of upheaval and inconvenience as our training and playing areas are greatly reduced during the course of the circa 16 weeks it will take to build. We will set up and run a series of surgeries (most likely first thing on a Saturday morning) to discuss and address any challenges that arise (e.g. where in the remaining space age groups will be able to train) and I would ask you to please bear with us and have patience in what will be an exciting but trying time whilst works are on-going!

Plans for the facility have been posted within the club house and you can pop in to have a look at any time or feel free to speak to either myself, John Thomson or Douglas Lamb about any aspect of the project.

We are really excited about bringing this state-of-the-art facility to Whiteshawgate as part of our on-going commitment to provide excellent facilities in which all age groups can enjoy sports, all year round!

Kind regards

Garry Tough
President SRFC