Pitch Perfect

Sherborne RFC are raising funds to keep players playing. 

What do you know about Sherborne Rugby Football Club?

Formed in 1980 with a playing membership of over 350 players with 2/3rds under the age of 18. We are proud to be a community-based club and open to everyone with players from the ages of 5 to 55yrs old boys and girls 

We have had some brilliant players over the years and currently have four ex Sherborne players in the Rugby Premiership (Ollie Devoto at Exeter. Jake Woolmore at  Bristol. Tom James at  Northampton and Tom Lawday at Harlequins) which is quite extraordinary for such a small town and they have all come through the club’s teams at some stage and still help out when they can!

Sherborne has a number of England Internationals at the various age groups /student and displays Ollie Devoto’ s England Full Cap against Wales in the clubhouse 

The 1st XV are playing at Level 6 in South West One with a team primarily built through the younger age groups.

Why the project 

Sherborne has a fabulous pitch constructed for us twenty years ago at a cost of circa £700k.  Unfortunately, the pitch holds water and for the last few seasons we have had to close it for three months  mid-winter as its been waterlogged.

With the pitch perfect we can get the younger teams playing games under floodlights again and making all our fixtures / occasions very special

The consequence of pitch closure 

The consequence of closing the pitch for three months is less income but more importantly less games. Moving games off our site means at the wettest part of the winter means we must rely on council pitches to play. There have been many occasions when we have been advised that a council pitch is not available as its been overplayed. We cancel games or try and rearrange fixtures. Moving games has also reduced the number of people who come to watch as there is no shelter or refreshment and it prevents people in wheelchairs from gaining access as there are no pathways.

What the plan is

Keith Kent the former RFU Head Groundsman came to the club in March 2020 and agreed that our main pitch could be something very special. We play in an area of outstanding beauty ! He has written a plan (Extract below) that we are working with which will address drainage and condition over the course of a year. We started work in April and have extensive works planned in September. We have worked in conjunction with the Sherborne Town Council, Sherborne Golf Club and Folke Golf Club who have all been very supportive and part of the solution 

Covid 19 has put our project in jeopardy?

The project has been put in jeopardy as a result of the pandemic

The club lost substantial income in March/April and May 2020 which historically are very strong months for us as a result of good weather, end of season social events and the Club Annual Dinner Dance. 

We must also be extremely cautious on major expenditure in  the forthcoming season which we believe will be financially tougher than any we have experienced before . 

We remain unsure when it will start and what our income will be under the latest guidelines regarding the use of indoor social space .

We have outstanding community sponsors who have supported us financially over many years  and help us become what we are today . This  will be our time to support them which I know our members will do   . 

Crowdfunding we hope will send our message in many different directions and  help us achieve our goal of keeping players playing, pitch perfect ! 

Thanks for giving your time to read about our project I hope you can help!

 Mike Trew Chairman 

07808 096810 email  mike.trew@molsoncoors.com