West Park Rugby Club - Covid 19 Support page

Aim

Vital renovation & maintenance work. CV19 prevented the start of the 2020 Rugby season & impacted the club's ability to generate any income.

West Park Rugby Club, St Helens

West Park RUFC was formerly established by Old Boy's and Masters from West Park School in August 1947.

A volunteer led and inclusive community Rugby Club we currently have 3 Senior mens teams, a senior Ladies team (the Foxes), a walking rugby team that played the first ever walking rugby international match in 2019 against our friends The 

Chiefs from Chicago USA, a mixed ability rugby team and a thriving Mini & Juniors section which includes 3 age grade girls team.

A Community Club

We are proud of the fact that many of the current crop of senior players (including our Chairman Stuart Holland) and coaches across all age groups started their rugby playing days (some a very long time ago) in our M&J section.

Our roots are firmly in the local community and we are proud of our long standing relationships with local schools, businesses and with our Charity Partner Willowbrook.  

Our clubhouse building is used by local dance groups and bands as a rehearsal space and a popular venue for celebrations of all kinds.

Over the last couple of years a great deal of investment has been made in the club's facilities, including replacing the roof and facias on our clubhouse and the restoration, resurfacing our car park and repairing the damaged main stand.

Most recently a program of upgrades have taken place including -

• New posts on both pitches
• New security fencing at the site to keep it secure
• A full program of maintenance on both club pitches
• The main stand has been repaired and re-painted 
• The terracing has been upgraded with disabled access added
• The pitch-side barriers have been restored and reinstated.

Much of this work has been undertaken by our amazing club members!

Why we need your support more now than we ever have before

In March of this year COVID-19 brought the 2019/20 season and subsequently all activity at the rugby club to a sudden stop.

After a period of closure and lost revenue the work began to make the club ready to reopen safely for use by all on a very limited basis. A program of work began in the club house. In addition a volunteer weekend involving 40 members and volunteers took place with volunteers undertaking work around the grounds and inside the clubhouse to get the facilities ready for the return of the players. In line with the RFU's guidelines we have been able to restart rugby related activities now right across the club.

It is great to see the grounds in use again but local lockdown regulations have really impacted on the normal operation of the club with the season put on hold and with it the activities that provide the majority of the clubs income. These include all match related hospitality & socialising, facility hire, functions and club and community events. The club is managing to cover its ongoing bills until such time as things return to a more normal state.  At this stage we have no idea when that might be. We do however have an ongoing program of essential maintenance, repairs and upgrades that still need to be undertaken. This includes floodlights for the first team pitch to allow use of the pitch for training by all teams across the club to reduce congestion on the remaining pitches and improve the training experience for all.

In addition to the usual bills, a large site such as ours and aged clubhouse always has a list of repairs and renewals to keep on top of which is both extensive and expensive.

The effects of COVID

The current outbreak continues to have a devastating impact on West Park. The club is reliant upon income from the rugby season, from the bar take, catering, sponsorship and also from the hire of the main club room for private functions.

All of these things have been and continue to be prevented under the restrictions placed upon us under COVID guidance.

We have big plans for the Club.

2021 marks the start of our 75th season and your support will help ensure that we can be here, a part of the the local community providing rugby related activities for people of all ages and all abilities for at least another 75 years into the future.

We are then asking you, our players, members, supporters, local residents and the wider community to come together and help us get through what is a unique challenge. 

Our rewards scheme

As well as donations we will offer a range of rewards that will be available for a minimum donation allowing you to receive something other than a warm fuzzy feeling as a result of your support of the club.

The rewards will be updated on a regular basis so please keeping checking in on our website to see what's new!

West Park (and Foxy the Red Rocks Fox) needs you!!

NEW WARM UP T_SHIRT - JUNIOR & ADULT SIZES NOW AVAILABLE!

Check out the rewards page and order your Willowbrook Warm up T-Shirt Now!

This project successfully funded on 23rd December 2020