Flood-hit Plymouth rugby pitch secures major grant for transformation
A flood-prone rugby pitch at King George V Playing Fields in Elburton is set for a major upgrade after securing more than £171,000 in funding to help improve facilities for players
A major upgrade to the main rugby pitch at King George V Playing Fields in Elburton is set to begin after securing a major funding boost.
The project has been awarded a £171,017 grant from the Premier League, The FA and the Government's Football Foundation, working with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), following approval by Sport England.]
Home to Old Plymothians and Mannamedians Rugby Football Club (OPM RFC), the pitch has been regularly affected by flooding, forcing training sessions and matches to be cancelled.
The project will install new drainage and improve the playing surface, making it safer and more playable throughout the season.
Funding also includes £50,256 in Section 106 developer contributions from Plymouth City Council and £6,750 from OPM RFC.
Councillor Kate Taylor, Plymouth City Council's Cabinet member for sport and leisure, said: "This is brilliant news for OPM and the wider community in this part of the city. There are few rugby pitches in Plymouth and this is a popular hub for players of all ages and abilities, from junior training to walking rugby, so we know how valued it is.
Martin Finlay, Technical Director at OPM RFC, said the club had spent the last three years working with the RFU and Plymouth City Council to secure the funding.
He said: "Over the last few years the quality of the pitch has declined, with numerous matches cancelled. We are therefore excited, in our 100th year, to see this project come to fruition, to enable the club to better provide facilities for men's, junior and girls' rugby for many years to come."
Football Foundation Chief Executive Robert Sullivan said the investment would benefit the local community.
He said: "This MultiSport Pitch Improvement Capital Funding grant award to the Old Plymothians and Mannamedians RFC will be vital for the local community in Elburton.”
Work is expected to start in July and take around eight weeks, and, during construction, the main pitch, part of the car park and the nearby cycle path will be closed.
After the work is completed, the pitch will remain out of use for around a year while the new playing surface becomes established before reopening.