It was always going to be a mammoth undertaking raising £2.3 million to build a new elevated clubhouse to take Keswick Rugby Club into the future.
But there was no stopping the relentless and sheer dogged determination of club officials, members, players, sponsors and supporters in mustering the drive to get the Big Build project over the line.
In that it was achieved in a relatively short period of time — around 18 months — is testament to the place that the club holds in the hearts of people who live in the town and surrounding area.
In a rousing speech from the clubhouse balcony during the weekend’s fun and action packed opening ceremony, club president Tim Green said: “The exciting part begins now: filling this incredible new space with community, celebration, and new memories.
“The only thing this clubhouse doesn’t have yet — is history. Let’s make some together.”
Both he and past president Trevor Keough, whom it was announced has been awarded the prestigious honour of life membership in recognition of his many years of service to the club, reminded those present that talk of a new clubhouse went back decades but became more focused after the old building, built in 1957, was swamped during the floods of 2009 and 2015.
Membership was also growing and included women and girls which meant the former clubhouse, built for two men’s teams, was no longer fit for purpose.
Mr Green acknowledged that it takes a community to build a clubhouse but paid particular tribute to committee member and project manager Carrick Wharmby whose relentless enthusiasm, creative optimism, and sheer drive reignited the clubhouse project.
A sub-committee was formed, and consultation began with the goal of establishing four key priorities:
- The building must be flood-resilient.
- It must have six changing rooms—to accommodate men, women, boys, and girls.
- The main room should seat 150 people.
- It should be physically connected to the pitch and grandstand.
“Balancing flood resilience with connectivity created a design challenge,” said Mr Green. “ The solution? An unconventional, upside-down clubhouse: changing rooms upstairs, hospitality space below, and a players’ stairway leading to the pitch. I hope you’ll agree — it works!”
Mr Keough said: “We are where we are because of people’s love for this club and its service to the wider Keswick and Cumbria community and to our sport in general.
“We are where we are because we follow the RFU values of team work, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship. We are where we are because of physical factors like constant flooding and lack of facilities making us victims of our own success.
“We are where we are through a spirit of can-do entrepreneurship, leadership, volunteering and dogged determination. We are where we are right now through the sacrifice of a great project team of planners, organisers, fundraisers and supporters who have funded the project through donations, sponsored activities, paver buying and much more.”
England international Abbie Ward, who began playing her rugby at Keswick School and now plays for Bristol Bears, was guest of honour for the weekend’s celebrations. She started playing for the club aged 10 and now has 72 England caps.
Among the congratulatory messages was one from Liam Nicholls, club developer North Cumbria & Northumberland, who said: “I would like to congratulate everyone on a monumental effort to deliver this project with so many moving parts.
“Hopefully Keswick’s new clubhouse will be a great rugby and business model which can be used across the country.”
Keswick MP Marcus Campbell-Savours said: “ The building is a testament to a lot of hard work by local people and it was fitting that one of England’s Red Roses, the town’s Abbie Ward, cut the ribbon.
“The celebration was made sweeter by the AXV coming home with the Cumberland Shield which they won this afternoon beating Penrith 28-27.”
As part of the celebrations, Keswick also played their annual friendly match versus Corstorphine Cougars from Scotland.
Over the weekend money was raised in aid of Multiple Sclerosis. The raffle raised £2,175.75 which included a £184 donation from Keswick Krazy Kickers.
