THE toilets of the Madejski Stadium would seem a highly unlikely place for inspiration.

But ambitious plans by Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club to raise �35,000 to buy their ground actually started in the urinals of Reading Football Club.

I’ll let Andy Spetch, club groundsman and second team coach, tell the story: “We were offered the chance to buy the Haberden by St Edmundsbury Borough Council and thought it would be great to secure the ground’s future and be masters of our own universe.

“But like every other club we only have so much money so we launched a fundraising campaign. I actually got the idea when I was in the toilets of Reading FC.

“They were doing a Brick In The Wall scheme allowing fans to pay to have their own message or name on a wall and I thought it was a great idea for Bury.”

From such inauspicious beginnings came the club’s very own ‘Buy A Brick’ campaign. They are asking the community to pay �100 to have their special message on a brick which will be featured on a wall in the clubhouse at the Haberden.

Spetch hopes the scheme will be so successful that it will raise all of the �35,000 needed - and almost 10% of the target was hit within the first week.

Urging the community to support the scheme, club chairman Phil Torkington said it was a “unique opportunity” to purchase the freehold of the ground and that it could allow future expansion of the site.

He said: “Our objective is to raise �35,000 to secure the future of the club with this purchase and to put us on a sound footing for the future.

“I ask you all, supporters, friends and family, to help the club achieve this aim and to buy at least one brick, so that you will be remembered in helping to support this worthwhile cause.”

For just �100, a personalised engraved brick can be purchased with the message mounted on a wall in the clubhouse and a unique certificate of authenticity for the buyer.

Anyone who would like to make a purchase or get more information on the scheme, should call Spetch on 07850 369787.