Rugby Club Issue 66 | Page 50

Egremont FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG Accountants respectively. Local butchers Haighs also provide a meat voucher for the post match raffle prize and local business people often sponsor the match ball. Each sponsor contributes at various levels to the success of the club and we are extremely grateful for their continued involvement.” Youth “Youth rugby is absolutely essential for us. Egremont youth section runs teams at Under 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. Our reputation in junior rugby is very strong throughout the north east and north west, as well as in Cumbria of course where we won three of the six available junior county cup competitions last year. Girls play alongside the boys where permitted under RFU regulations, and this season there will be an Under 14 girls team to harness their immense enthusiasm for the game. Ensuring a smooth transition is never easy but, as an example, no fewer than 16 members of last season’s Under 18 squad played for either the senior firsts or the seconds at some point. We tried to provide a ‘professional’, welcoming and hospitable environment and are looking forward to their continued involvement this year.” Community “We are very much a community club. Our clubhouse and facilities are used by groups as diverse as the ‘Keep Fit Club’ and the ‘Wildfowlers Association’. The clubhouse is also used for business conferences, wedding receptions, Christenings and funeral teas. The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) is let to local five-a-side teams as well as youth groups. The vast majority of the players, volunteers and supporters live in or near Egremont.” Facilities “Bearing in mind what I have already mentioned about the number of teams run by the club, the fact that we have only one pitch available for our use makes those statistics all the more remarkable. The pitch committee, supported by Copeland Council, work tirelessly to ensure that the playing surface is top quality which is no small achievement given the amount of rain we receive each season. 50 Issue 66