Since Covid, Eccles RFC has more than doubled in size, growing to almost 600 members. With four Mens teams on Saturdays and Womens, Colts, Juniors and Minis teams to accommodate on Sundays the club’s facilities have become stretched and in need of refurbishment. Rugby has evolved and with the aim of surpassing the standards expected of an community club we announced a programme of facilities improvements at the end of last season.
These improvements were designed to deliver the best possible experience and environment for our members and visitors with a particular focus on encouraging and sustaining the long term future participation of women and girls. The costs were met by a combination of funding from the RFU, Sport England, Salford City Council, our own club savings and a 'Rugby For All' community Crowdfunder and following a tender process the work was undertaken by club member contractors. The combined projects were completed during the summer ready for the new season.
On Sunday 27th October, the club invited guests and representatives from the organisations that have supported us to join us for breakfast and a tour of the new facilities, during which Sir Bill Beaumont GBE (Chairman of World Rugby, Vice President of the RFU, former Captain of England and the British and Irish Lions) declared our new changing facilities open. Joining him were Gill Burns MBE (former Captain of England and President of Lancashire RFU), Matt Coglan (RFU), Micheal Wheeler MP, Jack Youd and Hannah Robinson-Smith (Salford City Council) Carol Baker (former President Lancashire RFU) Kate Benetta (Womens Rugby Lancashire RFU), Michelle Orange and Georgie Perris-Reading (Sale Sharks). The gathering provided an invaluable opportunity to discuss the challenges facing community rugby and the potential opportunities arising from the Womens Rugby World Cup to be hosted in Salford next autumn.
Our 'Rugby For All' Project - two new changing rooms with incorporated showers, refurbished ladies toilets and social space - mark a significant step forward for the club and we hope move us closer to realising our ambitious plans to transform Eccles into a rugby club fit for the future of the game with facilities that the city of Salford can be proud of.
The images below capture the spirit of the 'Rugby For All' opening event and illustrate the work involved in acheiving the final results. We'll leave the final words to Sir Bill...
RUGBY FOR ALL OPENING EVENT
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CHANGING ROOMS
Before
Before
After
LADIES TOILETS
Before
New Roof
After
SOCIAL SPACE (phase 1)
Before
After
