Caerphilly RFC to get £299,000 for clubhouse repair and refurbishment

A leaking roof with accompanying buckets to collect rainwater is an all too often sight at Caerphilly RFC – the current poor weather not helping.

Efforts by club officials and volunteers to turn the club around have largely been a success with the club pulling itself out of £200,000 of debt several years ago.

Success on the pitch has followed with various titles for its youth and junior teams and former Fijian rugby star Nikola Matawalu joining the coaching set-up earlier this year.

But the club’s trajectory off the field has been hampered by the poor condition of its clubhouse at Virginia Park.

That is about to change however after the club was awarded £299,000 in UK Government money from its Community Ownership Fund.

Caerphilly RFC treasurer Mike Haley said: “ It is fantastic news for the club and for the community as well.

“This money from the UK Government will totally transform this club and this facility to support the community.

“The roof is coming down. Every time we have rain or bad weather we lose a couple of tiles.”

As part of the new roof for the clubhouse, solar panels are to be installed – generating electricity and freeing up cash to be spent elsewhere.

The club – despite only opening its clubhouse three days a week – currently has the burden of a £4,000 a month electricity bill. The new solar panels, it is hoped, will reduce this close to zero.

The money from the Community Ownership Fund is part of a £2 million package awarded to seven different projects across Wales.

These include the Tafarn y Plu pub in Gwynedd, The Bunkhouse music venue in Swansea, a museum in Powys and a community shop in Gwynedd.

UK Government Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens visited the club on December 16 to announce the news to the club and met with players, volunteers and school children.

She told Caerphilly Observer: “Essentially, it’s a recognition of the way in which the community have come together and saved this club – because in 2017 it was on the brink of collapse with huge debts.

“As a result of volunteers in the community, rebuilding the club, it is where it is today – absolutely thriving. It’s part of the community.

“I’ve been talking to loads of the children from local schools, all of whom have said, do you know, my brother, he plays in the youth team and my dad plays in this team, so it’s a real family club.”

Caerphilly Senedd Member Hefin David was also in attendance for the announcement and said: “This is a brilliant example of what a Welsh Labour government in Westminster and Cardiff Bay can do when connected with each other.

“There is no doubt that the awareness of the needs of Caerphilly are being responded to in Westminster.”