Surviving Covid - A future in Black and White

Aim

Please help us to recover from the ongoing financial challenges caused by COVID-19 and build for our future

There is nothing grey about a pandemic and nobody could have envisaged the devastating impact on our lives, our businesses, health and on our beloved ‘Black and Whites’. As we look back and reflect on past Saturday afternoons ‘roaring’ on our team for eighty minutes or standing on a side line on a damp Sunday morning offering encouragement, that feeling of well being has never felt more important. Hope floods back as we begin to look forward. Yet the impact of COVID on Percy Park RFC has been financially hard and to get back to hearing the final whistle once more, and retracing those steps back to the 1872 bar with confidence of a secure future, will take a collective effort. With your help Percy Park are hoping to raise vital funds to lessen the ruinous impact on our income and investment in our facilities whilst continuing with our work in the local community.

Our Crowd funding Aims

Protect today and build the future

Protect today - Our aim is to reach out to family, friends, members past and present and the local community to help us recover from the financial impact presented by COVID-19. Since the start of the Pandemic we have seen over 150 functions and events such as christenings, weddings and other celebrations cancelled, not to mention key fund-raising annual events such as the Percy Park Beer Festival and Fake Festival. Although our income has taken a huge hit we still have outgoings such as utility bills, equipment leasing, insurance and pitch maintenance that although we can mitigate in some way still places a financial burden on our limited resources.

Build the future – Percy Park would like to continue working with our partners in our local primary and secondary schools whilst giving young people an opportunity to enjoy and play the game of Rugby Union in a safe environment. In November 2019 Percy Park became involved with Coach Core and the Royal Foundation with the aim of developing the next generation of inspirational coaches, and appointed our own apprentice. 

Although the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and periodic school closures impacted the scheme, the scheme was able to provide rugby coaching in many schools and introduce the sport of rugby union to children in the local community. Percy Park wishes to continue the great work by creating a new post of Community Rugby Development Officer employing our apprentice from the scheme.

Percy Park RFC has lived through two World Wars, recessions and now this pandemic. We need to be there in the future for our players (young and old), volunteers, and supporters and importantly for the community of North Tyneside as a place of gathering for weddings, parties and those special events in our lives. Events that we all recognise, more now than ever, are of such importance to us all.

A Team in Black and White

All being well Percy Park RFC will be celebrating its 150th anniversary during 2022. Formed in 1872 the club has produced some outstanding players of International reputation and British & Irish Lions along with ‘one or two’ Presidents of the RFU and Northumberland Rugby Union; whilst gaining a reputation across the breadth of rugby union for its strong collective spirit (“Once Black and White always Black and White”), welcoming friendship and liquid generosity. With 3 Senior sides, a Woman and Girls team, 300 Junior players (from U6 to18) a thriving Touch Rugby section and an active volunteer base, that spirit of belonging and community continues to remain strong.

This project successfully funded on 3rd May 2021