Buxton Rugby Club ‘pauses’ rugby to offer facilities for other sports

The club’s director Karl Degroot said while rugby was no longer being played at grassroots level, football was and the newly-refurbished Sunnyfields facility could ‘support a multi-sports offering’.

Last month the club submitted plans with the council for a change of use at Sunnyfields - to include a day nursery.

Speaking about the nursery plans at the site Karl said ‘in order to support (other community sports) we need to generate revenues’.

He said: “We have a twelve-acre site able to support a multi-sports offering which is a valuable community resource if maintained.

“There are a number of local businesses looking for daytime and evening Covid-secure space which we have an abundance of both inside and out in our newly refurbished facility.

“We are all passionate to see local community sport continue to be played at Sunnyfields.

“This secures our pitch offerings maintenance-wise - while providing local sports clubs of all ages and genders with a first-class, grassed facility and a newly-refurbished function room.”

Karl said the club had been ‘so pleased’ at such a positive response from the community after they decided to open it up to other sports.

He said: “The local community has really embraced playing at Sunnyfields as we have having them - hopefully for many years to come.”

Though he added ‘currently it’s not rugby’s time locally’ he said, ‘who knows for the future - what is sure is we will have a facility to adapt if needed’.

Last month Karl featured on Radio 4’s The World Tonight programme in a report about the decline of grass roots rugby clubs.

In the feature he told reporter Bob Walker how Buxton Rugby Club did not have ‘a player base that can carry us through to the next season’.

Karl described the situation as ‘heartbreaking’ - saying there was a ‘disconnect’ between the way the Football Association and the Rugby Football Union has dealt with the pandemic.

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a print subscription. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Please subscribe here https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/ so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.