New astroturf pitch kick-starts the season at Maidenhead Rugby Club

The sporting action kicks off in style on Saturday (22 September) at Maidenhead Rugby Club with the official launch of its new artificial pitch - the first club-based pitch in the country.

The Mayor of the Royal Borough, Cllr Colin Rayner, will lead the celebrations ahead of the first home match on the new pitch at Braywick Sports ground against Newton Abbott at 3pm.

The new £575,000 floodlit pitch has been funded by the Royal Borough through developer contributions and by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Capital Investment Fund.

Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "This is a perfect start to the rugby season in Maidenhead - and it very much keeps alive the sporting fervour we have all enjoyed in this very special Olympic summer.

"The new pitch will be a real benefit to the community as it will allow more teams of all ages and abilities to get involved in sport in the Royal Borough and I would once again like to thank the RFU for its very generous contribution towards this exciting scheme."

Cllr Rayner said: "I am delighted to have been invited to help launch the new artificial pitch at Maidenhead Rugby Club. Sport is very important for all ages and this new facility will be a huge benefit to our residents."

John Wanklyn, rugby club chairman and chief executive, said: "This is an incredibly exciting development for the club which will solve our growing requirement for durable, high quality floodlit playing and training facilities. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the the RFU and the Royal Borough for buying into our vision and funding this project and I hope all of our playing members and visitors enjoy the new facilities for many years to come."

The CIP is the capital funding element of the RFU's Whole Sport Plan funding allocation secured from government. Responsibility for delivery is in the hands of each national governing body, with targets agreed on a sport-by-sport basis.

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