Dear Members,

I hope this update finds you well as we move forward into the second half of the season. It`s been a challenging return after the festive break, with persistent cold and wet weather disrupting training and fixtures over several weeks. However, the toughest blow has undoubtedly been the sudden and untimely passing of James Clarke. His loss has been deeply felt across the club. James was not just a former player, captain, coach, and Director of Rugby he was a driving force behind our rugby development and a great friend to many. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will endure in the spirit of Finchley Rugby Club.

The Independent Newspaper
A recent article by Hugh Godwin in The Independent highlighted the challenges facing grassroots rugby clubs, with Finchley Rugby Club as a case study - attached. Like many clubs at our level, we are dealing with rising costs, deteriorating facilities, and the need for investment to maintain and grow our rugby community.

The article does a great job of highlighting the role the Club plays in supporting the Community across all age groups and both sexes. In spite of the challenges, we now have over 400 boys, girls, men and women playing rugby every weekend, which is the most ever. We would like to thank all our members, volunteers, coaches and sponsors for their support of Finchley Rugby Club, we wouldn’t be in the position we are today without you.

We are actively working with local authorities, developers, and funding bodies to improve our facilities, including vital drainage work, clubhouse upgrades, and better resources for players. We are committed to taking proactive steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of our club. Our priority is to keep rugby thriving at a grassroots level, ensuring that players of all ages and backgrounds continue to have a strong, welcoming, and well-supported club to call home.

Glebelands Drainage
On a positive note, progress has been made on improving the drainage at Glebelands. Last summer, we worked with Barnet`s drainage team to assess how our playing fields drain and to identify ways to enhance them. The findings were concerning, decades of neglect had left culverts blocked with debris, vegetation, and collapsed structures, while ponds and streams were also clogged. This raised the water table by over a metre, resulting in prolonged waterlogging during wet weather.

Over the past six months, Barnet`s drainage team has cleared all seven culverts, rebuilt headwalls, and restored the ponds, brooks, and streams. These improvements are already having a positive impact on the condition of our pitches.

In addition, we have been working with Regal London, the developer of the North London Leisure Centre and one of the Club’s sponsors, who engaged a geotechnical consultant to assess further pitch and drainage enhancements. They have made recommendations, and we are now collaborating with Regal London and Barnet to secure funding to implement these improvements over the next two years.

RFU -Making a Difference Facilities Fund Grant
We are pleased to announce that Finchley Rugby Club has been awarded a £5k grant from the RFU - Making a Difference: Facilities Fund Small Grants scheme. This funding will go towards:
• Painting the entrance hall and male and female toilets
• Painting the entrance gates
• Installing new car park lighting
• Adding welcoming signage to enhance the club`s exterior
The painting to the clubhouse entrance hall and women and men’s toilets has been completed.

New Clubhouse Entrance Doors
We have upgraded our entrance doors to new hardwood doors, widening them to accommodate our growing membership. Soon, the club crest will be added to mark our centenary season.

Scrummage Machine
Our scrummage machine has received some much-needed maintenance, with all pads replaced and a new cover purchased for protection. A full maintenance check is scheduled for the spring to ensure it remains in top condition.

New tackle shields and pads
We have also invested in new tackle shields and bags to support training across all age groups. Look out for them in sessions they will be a terrific addition to our coaching resources!

Looking Ahead: Exciting Developments
There are plenty of exciting projects on the horizon as we continue to improve our facilities:
Centenary Gym - The site has been cleared, and the foundations have been cast. Keep an eye out for funding opportunities to support the next stage, including the purchase of cabins and materials.
Changing Room Water Supply Upgrade - A new 40mm mains supply will be installed in the changing rooms to improve water pressure and meet the increasing demand on our showers.
Women & Girls Changing Rooms – work is scheduled to connect water to these facilities, enhancing the experience for our female players.
Talking Bench - We will be installing a talking bench to encourage social interaction, combat loneliness, and provide a welcoming space for conversation.

Stay Engaged
There`s a lot happening at Finchley Rugby Club, and we want every member to be part of our progress. Keep an eye out for updates, and if you`d like to get involved in any of our upcoming projects, we would love to hear from you.

Thank you for your continued support and look out for updates. Here`s to a strong finish to the season!

Best regards,
George
Chair, Finchley Rugby Club