blackpool
stanley
Blackpool Stanley
H
aving first been established in 1979, Blackpool Stanley Rugby League Club continues to play an important role
in their local community. Rugby Club Magazine caught up with their Vice Chairman Darren Hardy-Dearness to
find out more about the good work they’ve been doing lately.
He told us, “I followed my son to the club during the 2014
season. I was particularly impressed with how the club and team
were run and managed. Everyone is so friendly and many of the
Club’s original members from 1979 remain involved.
“The Club has charitable status and its ‘USP’ is that all our
junior teams join the Club and Play for free. All costs are met by
fund raising and donations.
“The Club was also going places, not least with the completion
of a project which has led to it having its first permanent base.
The club leased and renovated a derelict building, including the
installation of a renewable energy heating system, creation of a
social space with bar along with training facilities. And best of
all – a brand new pitch right outside!
“Simon Hornby, our Chairman explained about the Club’s
ongoing ambitions and development plan and I felt compelled
to help out.
“The challenges are many. At Stanley the Executive Board is
action focussed and above all else we get the job done – whatever
it is. The Club has a very clear development plan and our role is
to manage everything as we progress along that plan.
“However, for me, the biggest rewards always come from
seeing our members, particularly junior members, enjoying
playing rugby league and being part of our Club.
Gilderdale Roofing LTD is a highly respected &
competent family run business serving the Fylde
Coast, Lancashire, Cumbria & the Isle of Man.
Services
“There is much optimism and excitement at Stanley right now.
The Club was voted the Blackpool Community Club of the Year
in 2014 and is attracting new members and volunteers all the
time. We have recently opened a licensed bar with Sky Sports
for the benefit of our members and their guests and the social
side of the game is becoming almost as important as the playing.
“We plan to establish junior teams by focussing on recruitment
from local Primary Schools. Amongst other things, we are looking
to raise funds so we can extend the facilities at our Clubhouse to
include a meeting room, office and a larger Clubroom.
We also want to continue developing our membership amongst
the local residents. Presently all our staff and coaches are
volunteers but we want to develop revenues such that we can
employ a full-time Rugby League Development Officer.
“Stanley has always had a particular focus on youth rugby
league. It’s a bit of a cliché but they are the future – of both the sport
and our Club. We aren’t just interested in developing superstars,
however. Through their participation in the Club, we want our
juniors to grow as individuals and remain connected with the
Club forever. In our under 15s, for example, we have potential
professional players but I also see Stanley’s future coaches, chef,
bar manager, groundsman, builder and a chairman.
“For the last four years our focus has been purely on youth
rugby as we have had no open age team. But as players have
come through the age groups and with the buzz around the Club
we have been able to bring back open age Rugby this year.
“The Club is very much a community club – we have won
an award for it! Our clubhouse development has also been
significant in the general improvement of the local park. It has
become an important community centre and we now regularly
host a number of local community groups and most recently, a
companion dog show. Blackpool Masters have also played some
of their games on our new pitch and we would be happy to see
other sports clubs using our facilities and drinking in our bar.
“We are seeking to develop rugby league in an area which is
a football hotbed and we particularly want to target boys and
girls who are not currently engaged in any sport. We need to
make sure that as we develop we have the infrastructure in
place, bringing on board sufficient numbers of parents and
volunteers with the experience, knowledge and skills to provide
the coaching and support. Our fund raising activity also needs to
keep pace with the expansion. The Club is planning to establish
at least one playing team at the youngest age groups each year.
We would also like to establish a female team. Winning some
trophies would be good too!”
Re Roofing Specialist | Slating & Tiling
Cure It GRP Waterproofing Fibreglass Roofing Systems
Simulated Lead & Copper Roofing in at a fraction of the cost
High performance built-Up Felt-Roofing
Guttering & Rainwater Systems | New Work / Site Work
Property Repairs | Re-Pointing Works
Plastic Facia's & Soffitts
Bird / Pigeon / Seagull defender spikes fitted
Tel. 01253 791301 - Mob. 07946 508928
www.blackpoolstanley.com
www.sportip.biz
35