Bugbrooke Rugby Union Football Club Limited

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

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BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

‘Badgers 2015’ Developing Bugbrooke RFC for the future

Introduction and Club History Bugbrooke RFC is a local village community rugby club, which serves adults, juniors and minis in the local area. Bugbrooke RFC was originally established in 1977, to provide rugby opportunities to the students of the newly-built Campion School. In 1973 Campion School finally employed a teacher of rugby football to complement the soccer already developed in the school. From 1976 onwards these students began to look for games in their local area and it became more and more apparent that there would soon be a need for a full time club. Chris Douglas, Mick Curtis, Graham Cooper and David Pope decided in 1977 that the time had come to formally establish Bugbrooke R.F.C. and were kindly proposed to the East Midlands R.F.U. by Long Buckby R.F.C. Even at this stage all of the games were played on Sundays. Bugbrooke R.F.C. played their first Saturday game on the 10th of March 1979 away against Brackley R.F.C. They then started their first full season in 1979-80 playing a collection of friendlies and pool fixtures. In the early days all eating and drinking after the game was at the Five Bells. From there the club moved to the luxury of Bugbrooke Cricket Club, the food being imported by the catering team of Pam and Brian Hollis, as in those days the cricket pavilion did not possess a kitchen. The Club moved to the current premises, although initially not having control of the buildings, the Club eventually took over the lease in 1995 and development work has been going on ever since. The Junior Section started in 1985 with the first Colts team playing in the 1988-89 Season. The Mini Section started in 1995 and the club now supports age groups from 6 to Adult. A considerable number of the senior players have progressed through the Colts and are proving an asset to the Club Bugbrooke are historically one of the smallest clubs in the local area, but much hard work and dedication over the last few years has seen much growth and success at the club. The Bugbrooke 1 st XV currently plays in Midlands Two South (East), RFU Level 7, finishing the 2011/12 Season in 3 rd place and the won Lewis Shield honours in 2011, following victory at Franklins Gardens. The club are now recognised as one of the strongest sides in the area, not to mention our rather attractive style of play. The 2 nd XI are a young and developing outfit, playing in the Midlands local Merit League and the 2012/13 season should see a return to pitch for the Bugbrooke RFC 3 rd XV (also known as the All-stars). In addition to this, the club prides itself on a thriving and growing Junior Section, with representation across every age category.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

Current Situation Bugbrooke RFC are arguably the fastest growing club in the Northamptonshire area, the 1 st XV currently play Midlands Two East (South) – level 7 – and have been striving for promotion for two seasons. Historically the club consistently played at levels 8 and 9, but are now recognised as one of the strongest teams in the area, not to mention an attractive style of play. The club’s 2 nd XV are on the verge of promotion from the Merit League, and boast a side of players with average age under 25, primarily players moving upwards in their rugby careers. The 3 rd XV play as a social and occasional side, which provides a continuing club connection with players nearing the end of their career as well as an infrastructure for growth. The club is delighted to see the return of a colts side in 2013/14 after a short absence, whilst the minis and juniors continue to thrive as the lifeblood of the club. Summary of Bugbrooke RFC facilities With the continued success at Bugbrooke RFC, the club is rapidly outgrowing its facilities at Camp Close. The club currently operates with two pitches, and a small clubhouse and changing facilities. Pitches

Main Pitch - Currently used for the majority 1 st and 2 nd XV home fixtures and junior fixtures. The pitch under-goes regularly work courtesy of David ‘Piggy’ Powell but struggles to cope with the volume of rugby. The club undertook a significant drainage project in 2005, and is considering repeating this process – it comes as no surprise that the pitch has struggled in the 2012/13 season in light of the incredible rainfall and snow throughout the winter.

Training Pitch – Used primarily for training, and when two sides are at home, as well as use on a Sunday. This pitch is floodlit (suitable for training purposes rather than matches). This pitch receives less attention.

New Pitches – The development of the club has taken a significant boost going forward, with the acquisition of two new rugby pitches resulting from the expansion of housing within the village. Land adjacent to the rugby club (and Bugbrooke Playing Field) has been sold for housing development, with work due to begin within the next 12 months. See diagram below. As a result land has been gifted, for two new rugby pitches, to be laid and seeded in the autumn of 2013, ready for play at the start of the 2014/15 season. This pitch expansion is critical to the continued development the club and underpins the importance of the ‘Badgers 2015’ Project.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

New Pitches at Bugbrooke RFC The new pitches will be prepared and seeded in Autumn of 2013 ready for use in the 2014/15 rugby season, this is vital to underpin the clubs growth, to allow three sides to play home fixtures and support the growing mini/junior section.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

Changing Facilities Bugbrooke RFC Changing facilities were fit-for-purpose when first constructed, with the increased demand on the facilities, the expansion of the club and its playing surfaces, club facilities are in urgent need of an upgrade. Changing Rooms Bugbrooke RFC currently has four changing rooms, shower area, officials changing area (including shower area). This part of the clubhouse also houses storage space, and male toilets, and space part used as gym area. Proposed Expansion Expansion plans are to include two new changing rooms as an extension to the clubhouse (subject to planning approval), built to the RFU Guidelines (as a minimum). New changing rooms are likely to be larger than existing facilities in place with access to communal shower area. This expansion will allow the club to host three teams on Saturday afternoon, increase, and allow more minis and juniors to use the facilities on a Sunday morning. Any refurbishment work would include an update of the existing changing facilities. Shower Area The current shower area provides communal showering facilities for all changing facilities; the current space has circa 14 Showers. The infrastructure for the showers is in need of replacing, with the boiler system unreliable and prone to breakdown. Any immediate capital expenditure, repairs or major refurbishment is to be delayed to be encompassed in with the greater club expansion plan. The showers have been ‘fit for purpose’ but are rapidly failing to support the clubs growth, particularly considering the increasing reliability issues. Proposed Expansion Expansion plans are to include additional showers to be added in line with new changing rooms, with significant updates to the existing showering facilities. Complete new and upgraded heating and pump system throughout to support new and existing facilities, with all additional plumbing work as required. Additional Space In addition to the changing room space, the club has some storage space and male toilet facilities within the changing area; one area has been used as free weights area primarily used in pre-season by senior players. Future plans may facilitate the inclusion of improved toilet facilities, a new and extended Gym area (with consideration for cardio as well as free weights) and Physio area.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

Club Lounge and Bar Area Bugbrooke RFC Club Lounge and Bar Area has a small footprint in comparison to the clubs size and figures, limiting the clubs ability to utilise the area. The Club Lounge is a single room facility; the area is served by a small but functional bar area. To the rear of the lounge a small kitchen provides capacity to provide food for a Saturday afternoon, and Sunday mornings, as well as hot drinks. The small footprint creates an environment in which it can become cramped host two home fixtures after the game, particularly with the increased popularity of the club and its ever-growing support. The kitchen area is small, with a single oven appliance and washing up facilities, there is limit space, in which only one or two people can operate. This causes significant issues when providing food on Sunday morning for mini’s and juniors, and effects are ability to cater end of season dinners effectively. The club invested in a foyer in the 2008/09 season, to create a better layout, more space and a foundation to extend the lounge area further. Due to feedback from club members and associates, the ladies toilets required refurbishment, and in the 2011/12 season, new toilets were installed in the bar area. The club hosts a number of annual events, including Vice Presidents Days, Legends Days, Club Nights, Karaoke Nights, Disco’s and Live Music. In 2012, the club held a Beer Festival for the first time, an event now due to become an annual event. Unfortunately due to the lack of space in the existing Clubhouse, annual events such as the Summer Ball and Player’s Dinner are held in the nearby Community Centre, rather than on the club site. This detaches the event from the club, increases costs significantly and takes valuable bar profits away from the club. The club screens live Big Screen Rugby, showing Six Nations, Autumn Internationals, televised Northampton Saints fixtures, and other fixtures coincide with home fixtures and club events – Bugbrooke is the only establishment in the village to provide this. The club occasionally hires the club to individuals and groups from the community, but is often deemed too small for most activities and hire purposes. Hire costs are currently very competitive, with non-exclusive hire being free, and exclusive hire available at a small charge. Proposed Expansion The key for the club is to increase the foot-print of the Club Lounge area to allow the club to provided more space, host more events and provide adequate facilities in light of the clubs growth, development and new pitches. The current space needs to be enlarged to comfortably house two or three Saturday home fixtures post match and more inside space for parents and children on a Sunday, with adequate facilities for food, refreshments and toilets. The overall objective is to increase capacity and footfall at the club for senior rugby and support a greater number of age groups playing home, and using the facility. From a club growth and development perspective, an ideal output provides a space that continues to be affordable for local community groups to hire and use, and allows the club to maximise the potential of its own facilities. This would include hosting the Annual Dinners for both Mini’s and Juniors, and whole club, the Summer Ball and larger scale social events, and further up-scale existing events such as the Beer Festival. The expanded space would also allow the club to trial pre-match dinners, and other events.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

Club Benefits Following the continued development of the club, and the installation of new pitches the ‘Badgers 2015’ project is critical to ensure the club fulfils its ambitions on and off the field, and dovetail with the RFU Lead Up & Legacy of England 2015. With the World Cup, and as part of ‘Badgers 2015’, numerous club events for club, community and fundraising will be staged, as we support both mini’s, juniors and adults eager to get involved with the game due to the traction created by England 2015. Bugbrooke is home to Campion School, a large secondary school serving many surrounding villages, Bugbrooke RFC provides rugby facilities to these same areas and to the local community. Bugbrooke RFC is located 7 miles to its nearest neighbours (Towcestrians RFC and Northampton BBOB RFC), within the rugby hotbed of Northamptonshire. Bugbrooke runs existing fundraising and community events, and is the only establishment in the village to show live big screen rugby. Bugbrooke RFC is a proud community club that focuses on providing an environment for players to grow, flourish and enjoy their sport, circa 90% of registered adult players have either played rugby for Bugbrooke as a mini/junior or attended Campion School. Ensuring we have adequate and quality facilities will allow us to improve the retention and growth of players in the 14-24 age bracket, which has been critical to the clubs recent success. ‘Badgers 2015’ is a large scale capital project to include expansion of the facilities to support the use of our new pitches, to house an extra set of changing rooms, increase and improve shower facilities, a new kitchen and a larger club lounge footprint to improve the quality of the experience for club players, members, supporters and the community. This will allow the club to continue to grow, sustainably and financially, and extend the clubs usage into wider areas of the local community, including business and social users outside of rugby. Without the investment in the facilities, it is likely that Bugbrooke will hit somewhat of glass- ceiling in terms of its growth, and fail to be an attractive club for grass roots rugby. In less than 20 years, the club has created a successfully developed its senior game, however this has been largely as a result of the emergence of mini and junior rugby at the club, and its resulting success. This element of the club will continue to provide the foundations for Bugbrooke RFC many years in to the future, but the club must now provide an environment to make this happen for players, members, parents, supporters and the wider community.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

What’s happening and how do I help? Rome wasn’t built in a day, and nor will the new look Bugbrooke rugby club. Stage 1 – Plans and Costings The club is currently working on developing drawings and plans for the expansion, considering both single and two-floor expansions, understanding the potential cost of the project. The club is hoping to share these options if possible before agreeing and progressing Stage 2 – Funding Bugbrooke RFC has created a sub-committee of volunteers specifically working on the ‘Badgers 2015’ Club Expansion Project. Jon Cory will lead fundraising efforts, with able support, whilst Rob Pardon will lead the search for funding through the RFU and alternative awarding bodies. Funding is likely to come from a number of key areas: • RFU Funding • Alternative Grants and Funds • Club Fundraising • Sponsorship The final cost of the project is likely to be significant, so the club fundraising starts imminently. Stage 3 – Build Perhaps the easy bit will be the building work, however it may create some chaos at Camp Close in the short-term. How can you help? ‘Many hands make light work’ – Your support is critical to the success of the project, the club will need to commit to some significant internal fundraising. So how can you help? • Support – Attending and Supporting Club Events and fundraising schemes, the club will communicate these to the whole club, and hopes for whole club support • Money – Lots of people making small contributions makes a big difference! If each registered player (mini, junior and senior) can get £5 out five friends and family – then club raises between £5,000 and £10,000 • Sponsorship and Donations – Do you own a business, and be willing to provided sponsorship? Is the company you work for a potential sponsor? Are you are (or someone you know) in position to provide a personal donation? Let a committee member or coach know • Skills – A building project such as this requires; Architects, Surveyors, Groundworks, Builders, Plumbers, Plasterers, Decorators, Electricians, Roofers, Gas Fitters, Carpenters, Doors/Windows and many more skills that could contribute to the a building project. If we use internal resource, it is significantly more cost-effective. We don’t expect our members and community to work for free, but hope we can enjoy some discount and keep the work local.

BBUUGGBBRROOOOKKEE RRUUGGBBYY UUNNIIOONN FFOOOOTTBBAALLLL CCLLUUBB LLIIMMIITTEEDD Bugbrooke RFC, Camp Close, Bugb rooke, Northamptonshire , NN7 4RW http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bugbrooke/

Ready to get involved? A fundraiser? A skills expert? An able supporter? A sub-committee member?

Speak to a Committee Member or your Coach now to find out how you can help!

Contact Rob Pardon (Bob) – Club Captain [email protected] 07894 865194

YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU!!