On collecting the award, the club’s Director of Rugby, Stevie Nutt commented, “We’re delighted to win this award. We wouldn’t class ourselves as having the most modern facilities but one thing we always guarantee is a warm welcome and good hospitality for all sections – mini, youth and senior teams.

“We’re well-known for our hospitality and I’ve set out the goal that when people come to visit the club, they’re given a hot drink and after games, all teams receive hospitality. We have a real club ethos by catering for all sections, including referees as well. They aren’t appreciated enough so we always provide for them.

“We can’t offer such a warm welcome without the parents of our youth and mini players. They contribute every week and we ask players’ parents to provide sandwiches and it’s them who prepare them all for us. We have a great band of parents and I have to give a special mention to Angela O’Hanlon and Lena Bell. Lena got a GoldMark Award for her volunteering efforts. She has been fantastic for us. Gina McCartan, makes the best soup which is commented on by all clubs; she is a star. Ruth Horan also makes traybakes to die for!

“We have an U18 squad but have struggled to put together U14 and U16 teams, so we’ve held blitzes to give those age groups an opportunity to play. Our Ulster Rugby Club Community Rugby Officer, Nathan Fleming helped to organise these blitzes which have been a real help to provide access to the game for our younger players. The club has also hosted regional skills sessions led by Joy Sparkes and Jonny Graham, and we were only too happy to provide the facilities.

“Everybody can be a volunteer and there’s always a job to be done; we can’t have enough of them. It’s often the case in rugby clubs that there are too few volunteers doing too many jobs. Whether it’s admin, DIY jobs, cutting the grass, coaching, or hospitality, without the volunteers, Ards RFC would not survive. Most of the coaches we have recruited are parents recruited and so have a real dedication to the club which feeds that family-orientated culture.”