For 46 years Tupton RUFC endured a nomadic existence. Eventually a home was found for the Derbyshire village club, based a couple of miles south of Chesterfield, three years ago.

With the help of NatWest RugbyForce ‒ whose input helped persuade the local council to contribute funds ‒ the new clubhouse was developed and their pitch was drained.

RugbyForce also sent the Rugby Football Union’s head groundsman, Keith Kent, to pay an invaluable visit.

“With the help of NatWest RugbyForce ‒ whose input helped persuade the local council to contribute funds ‒ the new clubhouse was developed and their pitch was drained”

After three successive RugbyForce weekends, in 2015, 2016, and 2017, with hordes of volunteers mucking in, and three separate grants from the NatWest initiative, the Tupton community has benefited hugely.

Local youngsters now have a club they can join, the 1st XV match-day attendance has been boosted from 10 to 100, and membership has grown to more than 200 players.

“There is no doubt that the high point in Tupton RUFC’s history was in 2015 when we realised a long-held ambition to create a permanent base with the opening of our clubhouse,” says Bob Curry, the club’s secretary for a quarter of a century.

“It brought focus to everything that we do and has allowed members, past and present, to come together and enjoy being part of the club. Before the move we were like nomads, using various playing and socialising venues in the area.

“Back then with the dream of starting a junior section some way off, the ability to sustain the club was a significant challenge. We are now producing players for the senior sides from our mini and junior sections for the seniors, and we are very proud of that.”

Tupton RUFC now has three senior teams and eight junior sides. Mr Curry insists it was all made possible because of those NatWest RugbyForce grants.

Furthermore, RugbyForce’s worth as a contribution to the community was recognised by the local council, which matched the £2,000 the club received from the initiative in 2016 for improvements and drainage.

“With the money, we have created a patio area with full disabled access to provide a fantastic elevated viewing platform,” says Mr Curry, whose son Sam plays centre for the 1st XV.

“We have provided floodlights next to the main pitch to allow training to continue throughout the season for all sections. And in what was a particularly memorable event, we had a visit from Keith Kent, who advised how we might improve our pitch that was notorious for being unplayable.”

The season before Mr Kent’s visit a dozen matches were called off because of waterlogging. “The pitch improvement has been beyond our wildest dreams – we haven't missed a training session or game on the pitch this season which has been truly remarkable,” Mr Curry adds of Kent’s top tips.

“The upshot has been remarkable. By playing more games, members stay engaged and more money comes through the club. Members can now train and play as often as they would like.

“The 1st XV have jumped to the top of the league, the 2nd XV are progressing well, and we are now able to put out a 3rd XV.

“Junior numbers have never been higher, and we attract more than 100 members and friends to each home game through providing a warm hospitable atmosphere where many past players are able to come and enjoy being part of the club again.

“It’s so important, because the rugby club is the community centre and social hub of our village and the surrounding area.”

To read the article follow:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/support/council-rugbyforce-subsidises-tupton-rufc-rise/

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