Rugby club celebrates pitch success

10:46am Thursday 1st May 2008

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FUNDRAISERS in Lymm are celebrating finally succeeding in buying an extra 10 acres of land for a sports centre.

The Lymm Grass Roots Sports Appeal, part of Lymm Rugby Club, has succeeded in buying the land for the development of pitches for rugby, hockey and tennis.

The land is next to the existing first team pitch and fulfils the club's long-held ambitions for the sporting development of the community.

"This is a wonderful and exciting time for Lymm Rugby Club and the wider community," said chairman John Hopkinson.

"It comes after a tremendous amount of hard work and, in some cases, extraordinary generosity from certain individuals.

"It also shows what can be done when a determined group of people put their minds to it."

Fundraising activity included the Lymm Panto, car boot sales, cars washes, grocery packing at Asda, race nights, raffles, ladies' nights, sportsman's dinners and summer balls.

However, fundraising is ongoing due to the need to repay commercial loans and funding support provided by the RFU, as well as land development costs to turn the land into playing fields.

"This is a big step for Lymm but there is still much to do.

"We still need to raise a further £500,000 so our kids can play on the pitches.

"The land acquisition was not without its challenges but I wish to publicly thank the Morton family, the club's grass roots committee, the council and the many members who contributed so much in terms of time, effort and money to this campaign."

l If you are interested in sponsorship call Neil Kelly on 07768 077150 or e-mail kelly.net@virgin.net