By Andrew Clarke

Published at 11:16, Thursday, 14 February 2013

EGREMONT Rangers are celebrating a pre-season boost after securing £155,000 towards the upgrade of their clubhouse and the redevelopment of Gillfoot Park.

John Brocklebank: Delighted to have secured the funding

The project will see the main pitch at Gillfoot Park move 40 metres south so that rugby league and cricket can be played on the same day and at the same time.

Securing the funding this week, from the Copeland Community Fund, is a major step towards the complete project package of £377,000.

A huge amount of fundraising has been undertaken in the last two years by the rugby club.

Coach John Brocklebank: “We are delighted to have secured such a large amount of funding for the organisation. We have worked very hard towards this point and have accessed support and guidance from the Copeland Community Fund’s development worker throughout the process to get us to this stage.

“We are awaiting just one more funder to make a decision to complete the whole package and hope to start work on the clubhouse upgrade during March and up at Gillfoot Park during April. This project means we can continue our excellent work in the community and ensures we can continue to inspire the young and old to take part in sport.”

Improvements to the clubhouse will include disabled access, baby changing facilities and revamped toilets, showers and changing rooms for players and officials.

The club has also applied to landowners Cumbria County Council to take over the running of the former Wyndham School playing fields – known as the Malcolm Barr fields – to create extra facilities for the development its players.

The council is currently considering the proposal.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk