Who are we?

Sherborne Rugby Football Club was formed in 1980 and has overtime become one of the biggest provider of organized children's sport within the community with more than 350 players of all ages enjoying rugby on a weekly basis with two thirds under the age of 18

The clubhouse was built in 1990 and has served the club well but the membership now is significantly bigger with three times more players and social members than when the building opened .Our core facilities need urgent improvement!

Every weekend ladies must queue to use the two toilets shown below which are well below the standard we would want ! 

Girls and Ladies playing rugby is now massive and Sherborne must offer better facilities to support that growth in the game

Playing participation is high and on a busy weekend we can attract 1000 people to the club and serve hundreds of players meals . Its so important that people can socialise with their match day opponents .We must have six volunteers in the kitchen on a busy day to cope and  have outgrown the space  available

We have been very successful at what we do and have had some brilliant players over the years with five ex Sherborne players in the Rugby Premiership (James, Lawday, Devoto , Woolmore  and Lockwood) this season with Sam Nixon playing in France ,quite extraordinary for such a small town !

Sherborne has a number of England Internationals at the various age groups and displays four different England Shirts in the clubhouse

We are so very proud of every player from all ages who has played for the club and continued  on to have fun making life long friends as a consequence of playing the game!

Why are we crowdfunding?

The membership today has grown to such a level that the clubhouse is no longer conducive for sustaining the numbers we have or supporting the player growth particularly from women/girls rugby. 

Whilst the clubhouse has served us well for more than 30 years the toilets, kitchen and club room are either too small, too cold or unable to meet the demands of a thriving club .

Our plan is to move the existing kitchen and toilet facility, staying within the footprint of the existing building and build in the areas that were previously used for storage.

We will build new toilets including a wheelchair accessible facility. The new kitchen will enable us to serve up to 300 meals on a weekend and by increasing the space within the club room by 40% we will be able to provide seating so that the players can eat together with their opposition post match and provide enough shelter on a cold and wet Sunday morning for our youngest members!

We have committed nearly £70,000 towards the project raised by our own members and local community but must now seek more help through crowdfunding to fill the gap . The club has no debt and will not seek loans . We will be patient and do what's needed to fundraise the shortfall.

How we will spend the money raised

The fundraising plan will enable us create brand new toilet facilities and then move the kitchen to a new room with substantially more space and equipment within it .We will create a new entrance lobby with bag drop area and have a new first aid room . After that we will work to extend the club room and increase the floor area and will try and manage that last element of the plan  through volunteer working parties .

The work on removal of the old shower block and storage areas has been completed. Space is now available for the new facilities .

Take a tour of what's been done so far with Shane Newton (Player of the Year 2005 and 2006) 

We cant progress without your support !

Shane will show you that we are really well advanced with the project and that the fundraising will enable us to complete the works. 

Four simple ways to help Sherborne RFC to reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don't delay if you?re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer us a reward we can add . Please get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. If you want to run your own fundraiser to support us, maybe a sponsored activity or similar, use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won't need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Why the Clubhouse is so important  

The clubhouse is where players meet before and after sport . Its where the parents and supporters gather whilst the players get ready for the game . It must be of a standard that people are relaxed and want to be there . Its where people will go post match to talk about the game, eat a meal with our opponents and be great hosts . 

Our clubhouse has been the venue for dinners , birthday parties , wakes and even pantomimes 

Our Record of success

In August 2020 we raised £15,000 to carry out repair works on our rugby pitches in line with the recommendation's of the RFU head of grounds. The project through Crowdfunder was called Pitch Perfect.

Extensive works were actioned and we have not had to postpone a match since because of water logged pitches . Every penny raised was spent in line with project and today our pitches are first class  good enough to host county games! 

What other people think  

Juliet Pentolfe The Mayor Sherborne "I have met so many  lovely people and such great fun to be involved  as secretary to the Youth and Mini side of the club some years ago . Rugby was always very important the life skills taught in a very natural and fun way”

James Gower Deputy Headteacher at the Gryphon School Sherborne“Over many years, Sherborne RFC has provided thousands of young people in our community a focus, a purpose and a sense of belonging. Through rugby young people develop key life skills: discipline, commitment, self-confidence, work ethic, leadership and team work; they learn how to win and how to lose. Having been an active member of Sherborne RFC for over 30 years, rugby has given me memories and friendships for life.”

Jon Andrews Sherborne and Dorset Councilor  “Sherborne Rugby club has been part of the sporting community in Sherborne for more than 40 years and continues to thrive .The. Club provides a valuable outlet for sport in the town and local villages .Long may it continue! 

How the club is funded 

The club raises the funds to operate each year through its members and business support from the local community. 

Our club is open to those playing sport or seeking to enjoy the social occasion associated with sport.

The support we get from community business is quite outstanding !

How our project will be united by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games mission

In order to receive any Sport England grant, we need to ensure that our project is aligned with the Birmingham 2022 mission and vision. 

The Birmingham 2022 missions are;

• Bringing people together,
• Improving health and wellbeing,
• Helping the region to grow,
• Being a catalyst for change,
• Putting us on the map.

We believe that our project will bring more people together and more often !

Sherborne Rugby Club believes that by undertaking this project, we will be able to fulfil the Birmingham 2022 mission statement. This project will put  the club on the map as the new facilities will help sustain our sport and will bring more people together  and more often .  As a direct result of this, health and well being will be improved for all stakeholders.

This project ensures that rugby at the club will thrive for both males and females, and be a welcome space to other members of the club and to our visitors and local community.  This project will help underpin the female game, and will be a catalyst for growth showing that Sherborne is able to promote and grow this special part of the game and is both inclusive and progressive.

Sherborne champion youth, and coach children from under six through to adults. We attract huge crowds each weekend to our club and town as a consequence of the quality of the sport we offer which brings  energy and life into the town which helps it grow and succeed 

Our project for change will transform and strengthen our club for our young players and their parents , our members , our visitors and anyone who has a disability . Working as a team we will deliver new and sustainable  facilities to underpin everything we do on the field of play

Thanks very much from everyone at Sherborne !