W/D RECEIVE TWO FUNDING BOOSTS

More than £100,000 awarded in funding to W/D

Waysiders/ Drumpellier Rugby Club are set to benefit from a huge sixfigure boost, which has been labelled a“godsend” by the club’s hierarchy.

The Coatbridge club have been given £50,000 from the Scottish Rugby Union ( SRU) as well as £58,000 from SportScotland.

As they prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their founding, coach and spokesperson Gerry Brankin says the funds will be invested in new facilities to attract more youth players, and keep the ones who currently enjoy training with the club.

He told the Advertiser : “The biggest benefit from our perspective is that it gives us additional facilities.

“We now coach in conjunction with Coatbridge High and have a girls’ team as well as all the boys’ teams.

“We also have around 50 kids who participate at ‘minis’ level.

“So, in a logistical sense, this grant is a godsend.

“This should allow us to have better facilities and changing rooms, should we have two games on a Saturday. This is all about helping the youth and although the seniors will benefit from this too, we have so many kids now that they will be the main beneficiaries of the grant.”

The changing rooms currently used by the teams have been in place since the 1970s.

A total of £120,000 is required to secure the introduction of new ones, meaning a further £12,000 needs to be added on top of the two grants the club has received.

Brankin confirmed the club can use some of their savings to add to that, as well as having the opportunity to raise vital funds during their 25th anniversary celebrations throughout next season.

He continued: “The money we need to raise ourselves is more than achievable.

“There is money in the coffers but we also have the option to do crowdfunding.

“Our 25th anniversary celebrations will help too with the events we plan to hold for that.

“Overall we’re delighted with the boost and hopefully it will get people chatting about the benefits of our club.”

W/ D were unfortunately relegated at the end of last season, but Brankin hopes the aforementioned celebrations will now coincide with a promotion party.

He added: “Of course, being relegated wasn’t nice.

“But if we can push on this season and perform well then it would be great to win a trophy in such a big year for the club.

“We’ve also organised a tour of Sweden in August to kick off the celebrations and will hold a summer ball too.

“We’ll stretch it out through the year instead of having a one-off celebration.

“It’s going to be a big year!”

Finacial boost £50,000 has been given to Waysiders/ Drumpellier by the SRU, while SportScotland have granted £58,000