Keswick rugby union club has ended the 2023/24 season with a feeling of optimism and achievement which is palpable.
The had begun the campaign with dreams of sporting success, community participation and the possibility of raising enough funds to begin the building of a new club house.
Sporting success was achieved with last day survival in Regional Two North, then victory in the Regional Papa Johns Trophy final at Darlington.
As for community participation the club now has more teams than it has ever had.
The junior teams have flourished and now 13 teams of boys and girls play competitive rugby from Under-7s to Under-18s.
The new club house dream has been around for a number of years and gained pace and urgency last year as the club itself grew.
The clubhouse has flooded a number of times over the years and this was also putting pressure on the need for a new design of club house.
Club president Tim Green said: “The women’s team, Keswick Falcons, attracted many new members and combined with the four junior girls teams it meant the changing facilities were under increasing pressure and were no longer considered fit for purpose.
“This is all good news on the way the club wanted to grow and develop, and resulted from the countless hours invested by a small army of volunteers.
“But the dreams of the new clubhouse hinged on raising enough funds to make it a reality. Various grants were applied for by the voluntary fundraising team and smaller fundraising events were organised on a regular basis.
“The club volunteers really came together and worked as one to facilitate as many events and fundraising opportunities as possible.
“One of the grants that was gifted to the club was from the RFU and that grant has helped the Big Build dream to inch nearer to becoming a reality.
“A significant milestone this year was the successful award of a Community Ownership Fund grant as part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.
“The club are eternally grateful to Trudy Harrison for her support during the application process and were thrilled when Jacob Young MP visited in person to announce the good news.”
This season the club has formalised The Keswick Way, the club’s unique ethos and set of values. One of the club’s stated objectives is to finish each season with more players than it started with and this has once again been realised.
The president added: “The club has also had great success in terms of representation with a record number of boys and girls entering the England pathway at DPP level.
“Seven boys started the season at Newcastle Falcons Academy; we had representation in the girls’ North East and Cumbria Centre of Excellence and five of our senior women’s team and two of our senior men’s team represented the county.
“It is a phenomenal achievement from a grass roots club embedded in, and supported by, their local community. It is a heart-warming success story of what can be achieved when a community collaborates and shares a common goal.
“The Big Build success and the sporting achievements this season means Keswick Rugby Club is on a roll and flying high with pride.”
Their Gofundme page is at https://www.gofundme.com/f/p3r4e-krufc-the-big-build
