THE WINNINGTON PARK RUFC COLUMN - By Dave Allcock

WINNINGTON Park plans to invest in infrastructure and facilities are to continue.

Despite the current uncertainty about the start of next season’s rugby season and the drain on club resources due to the premature end to this season and the cancellation of many planned summer activities, Park are continuing plans to invest in the infrastructure of the club.

Projects may be delayed slightly but the club’s committee have put in emergency measures to ensure the club’s finances remain in a healthy position for the future.

In the last three years significant investment has been made. This has included:

• Improving drainage to playing pitches

• Installation of floodlights on two pitches and a training area

• Building of an external viewing balcony on the clubhouse

• Replacement of clubhouse windows and doors

• Replacement clubhouse roof

• Upgrading of ladies restroom facilities

• Refurbishment and improvement of club bars and lounges

• Upgrade of CCTV security and audio visual equipment

This summer will see further works to improve the drainage to the club’s three pitches and training areas along with increased pitch maintenance to improve the playing surfaces.

Depending on finance available the club also has plans to improve the male restrooms, update the club’s catering facilities and continue its improvements to car parking facilities.

In the long term the club would like to install an all weather training/playing pitch to reduce the number of games and practice sessions that have to be cancelled each year due to the weather conditions.

Club finances come from membership fees, profit from social functions and activities, hiring of the club facilities and sponsorship from local businesses.

Park also receive income form its partner organisations who use our facilities such as Winnington Park Hockey Club, Vale Royal Cycling Club and a number of local brownie and guide groups.

Finance from all these sources allows the club to continue to invest in its facilities and to meet our aim to make Burrows Hill the best rugby facility in the county.

Winnington Park remains an amateur club and relies on an army of volunteers to run and manage the club, grounds and facilities, to organise events and match days, and to coach, manage and organise all our teams.

Anyone who may be interested in volunteering at the club or providing sponsorships to support the club’s ambitions and its team can find more information on our website at wprfc.com