Martin’s so wrong about Chinnor...our club is thriving

RE Martin Brooks’ letter (March 19) on lack of sustainability of funding within rugby clubs. He mentions our club Chinnor RFC as an example.

Mr Brooks is clearly unaware of our finances and set up. Otherwise, he would realise the following: 1. We balance the books and produce a small surplus every year 2. We have generous sponsors who like what we do as a community club as well as at first team level 3. We continue to generate more commercial revenue by working hard at it. 4. Not only do we balance the books but in the past 12 months we have spent £250k on improving the clubhouse and our facilities through our own fund raising efforts. 5. Our minis and juniors and senior community sides are thriving and welcome the input that the first team provide. 6. He is clearly speculating as to the level of our playing costs presumably on the back of what he saw at the game he attended.

We are lucky that many players wish to play for us because of the environment, our ambition, the help we give players to start their career outside of rugby after their professional career and the platform we provide for young talent to move from us to a professional career.

We would be happy to meet with Martin’s club to provide some pointers – providing they are not one of the clubs we are vying for promotion with! DOUGHUMPHRIES Chinnor chairman