BRITISH Lion full-back Tim Stimpson helped Stowmarket Rugby Club introduce its newly refurbished clubhouse facilities to the community in traditional fashion.
BRITISH Lion full-back Tim Stimpson helped Stowmarket Rugby Club introduce its newly refurbished clubhouse facilities to the community in traditional fashion.
The former Leicester and England player gave an after-dinner speech as part of the open day for the club's new facilities that include meeting and conference rooms, a larger bar area and kitchen and improved changing rooms to help with their growth. The project cost nearly £300,000 with money raised primarily by club members and helped by a grant from Mid Suffolk District
Council and was formally opened by RFU president Brian Williams.
Following the formation of a junior section seven years ago, up to 200 youngsters are now playing or being coached, as well as a first XV that compete in Eastern Counties Division One, so Stowmarket Rugby Club needed the refurbishment and extension to help its growth.
The new clubhouse is seen by the club as an exciting step forward and they look forward to welcoming opposition teams and their supporters and have offered the facilities to everyone who can join for a 'modest' membership fee.
Sadly, the only setback on the day was the first team's 18-15 defeat by Wisbech.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here