Rugby Club Issue 59 | Page 5

Southport at the club and now we have well over one hundred volunteers that really help us to keep progressing. Not only do we have a large number of volunteers but they are very capable and very focused on the future and developing the club further.” Community “We have 200 or 300 people turning up every Sunday and we work hard to play an important role in the local community. Having positive neighbourhood relations is a core element of what we do and we’re keen to have as many people involved with us as possible. We have also led the creation of the Southport, Ainsdale and Formby Emerging Schools Competition which has eight schools that are playing in two leagues that we have formed. They are local schools which are not traditionally rugby schools and we are hosting a final days for them and it’s very important to us to build that and develop rugby in our locality.” Facilities “We’ve been able to make significant changes and improvements to the facilities at the club. In the last three and a half years we’ve built new changing rooms, put up new Twickenham sized posts, new floodlights and completely refurbished the clubhouse last summer. We’re developing a very non rugby related business as well. That allows us to be pretty vibrant all year round with our first weddings being booked and the space being utilised on a much more regular basis than previously which should stand us in good stead for the future.” The Future “This season