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Clubhouse Extension Project

RFU President Willie Wildash (red tie, far left) looks on approvingly from the verandah of the new clubhouse extension as members of the Sevenoaks U7 squad pose with club president Howard Pearl, (left) oldest current player Stuart Middleton, (centre), chairman Lee Adamson (right) and coach Steve Fitzmaurice (far right). The U7s had helped to inaugurate the new clubhouse extension with a tag rugby demonstration before the 1st XV match against Old Midwhitgiftians.

 

More than 100 members and guests attended a gala lunch to re-open the extended clubhouse on Saturday. Sevenoaks MP and SRFC member Michael Fallon did the honours, unveiling a plaque to set the seal on a five-year, £350,000 project to create a clubhouse fit for the 21st century. (Click here for photos). Enlarged changing rooms, new changing and shower facilities for officials, a clean physio and medical room, a club office, enlarged and refurbished bar and kitchen and a magnificent new clubroom are among the most significant features of the new facility.

The project has been a massive team effort, in the best traditions of grass roots rugby. Project chairman Stephen Manley worked tirelessly and tenaciously for three years to steer the undertaking to its successful conclusion, while building manager Peter Hunt gave huge amounts of time, effort and expertise during the building phase. Fund raising supremo Howard Pearl chivvied and cajoled the membership to buy bricks and make donations until the money raised, while project treasurer David Williams ensured nothing was spent that hadn't been collected. A generous grant from the RFU topped-off a fundraising effort sufficient to ensure that the club completed the project without incurring a single penny of debt – a fantastic achievement of which everyone in the club who contributed can be justifiably proud.

Lee Adamson, Chairman, Sevenoaks RFC

 

Yes, here is conclusive proof that it is now all happenning.....

Our clubhouse is now 30 years old. When it was built, it was a state-of-the-art facility, but now, sadly, it is most definitely showing its age. The club is now embarked on a major project to bring it properly into the modern era and provide the facilities we need to cope with increased numbers and, in particular, the massive success of our junior sections.

The clubhouse extension will take the club into the 21st century, make a clear statement about the future of the club, be able to cater for its growing membership and on field success at all ages, strengthen the clubs position in the local community and allow the members to enjoy their rugby to the fullest. 

Click here for the full project presentation  

Background:

The Committee has established a small sub-committee and tasked it with drawing up proposals for an extension and refurbishment of the clubhouse to bring it more into line with today's requirements and expectations.

At the last AGM, that sub-committee was able to show the membership a set of plans and, based on the general approval those plans received at the AGM, the sub-committee is now pursuing the necessary steps to achieve planning permission and raise the finance needed to bring the project to fruition.

The full engagement of the entire membership will be a crucial part of the success of this project and establishing an effective communication channel with you all is a vital. For those of you that were unable to make the AGM, we will be putting the plans on-line for you to see them. We will also be inviting your comment and feedback throughout the process.

The Clubhouse Extension Sub-Committee:

We have extended the sub-committee now to six people. The members are:

Steve Manley, David Williams, Howard Pearl, Peter Hunt, Ian Wood and Paul Groves.

Although we are very much working as a team, we have roughly allocated responsibilities as follows:

Steve - Project Chairman 

David - Finance

Peter and Ian - Lease, planning and construction

Howard - Fundraising

Paul - PR and communications 

Why we need to expand?

  • Existing clubhouse now 30 years old
  • No disabled access or facilities
  • Massive increase in junior membership - now over 520 junior members, over 60 coaches
  • Need more changing space to accommodate increase
  • Need bigger club room for rugby-related hospitality
  • Need bigger changing rooms for senior 1st and 2nd XV - game has evolved to a more "professional" level with substitutes, physios, managers, coaches, more equipment
  • Facilities failing to keep pace with local "rivals" - we fail to meet modern expectations
  • Longer term desire to re-establish girls/womens playing section

The Rugby Club and the Council:

When Knole Paddock was given to the town, back in the mists of time, the rugby club was given the right to play on two of the three pitches in perpetuity. Sevenoaks Town Council now has responsibility for the whole of the Paddock and they are our landlords. We own the bricks-and-mortar of the clubhouse but we lease the land it stands on from the Town Council. The current lease has only a few more years to run but the Council has agreed to renew it on favourable terms and this is an essential element of this entire project.

The proposal in a nutshell:

  • Existing clubhouse remains
  • 9-metre, single-storey extension in direction of Lady Boswell School
  • 4-metre, single-storey extension in direction of tennis club
  • New players entrance, new players toilets, 6 larger changing rooms, new officials changing rooms (including separate facilities for females)
  • New non-player entrance and upgraded toilets
  • Pitched entrance roof with more light and better acoustics
  • Upgraded bar and kitchen with pernmanent big screen

What we aim to achieve:

  • Disabled access to club room and pitches
  • Disabled lavatory facility
  • Significant increase in changing room space (current No1 changing room would be minimum size)
  • Separate players' and spectators' entrances ("dirty" and "clean" areas separated)
  • New, prestigious entrance vestibule
  • Externally accessed equipment storage
  • Extended club room
  • New bar and kitchen facilities

Proposed timescales:

  • General agreement Summer 08
  • Planning permission Spring/Summer 09
  • Fundraising programme commences February 10
  • Commence building end season 09/10
  • Complete building start of season 2010/11 (September '10)

Finance:

  • Cost estimate - £350,000
  • Financed from:
    • Existing club funds
    • Special one-off fundraising efforts from club members and sponsors
    • Grants from RFU, Sport England, KCC, etc

Milestones achieved to date:

  • Initial plans drawn up and approved by club at AGM
  • Presentation to Town Council Open Spaces Committee - approval in principle
  • 2 public meetings held to hear residents' concerns
  • Plans passed through RFU Architect
  • Lease renewal negotiations successfully initiated
  • Fund-raising sub-committee established
  • Development of fund-raising strategy commenced
  • Presentations to members of senior and junior sections

Feedback:

Feedback and questions are welcomed. Send me an email to Steve at sbm456@btinternet.com. Please put "clubhouse extension project" in the message header. I'll be glad to hear from you!