SADDLEWORTH RANGERS’ players and supporters can write themselves into the
club’s history – by buying a brick with their name on to be part of a wall in the new clubhouse.
The ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme was the idea of former chairman Terry Flanagan and
will see around 1,000 bricks sold for £10 each to make up a wall of
recognition.
Club chairman Shane Wilson, who is heading up the project, said: “When the
new clubhouse is finally erected there is going to be a wall of recognition
in the fabric of the club to recognise everybody who has helped us achieve
our goal.
“People can own a little piece of Saddleworth Rangers’ history, if you like.
“We launched the project at our soul night but it was a bit slow on the uptake.
But it’s really taking off now and we sold around 200 bricks after a
positive response at our gala dinner.”
A planning application for a new £200,000 clubhouse will be submitted this
month followed by a grant application to Sport England, with Rangers
needing to raise £50,000 themselves.
The plan is to knock down and rebuild the clubhouse – excluding current
changing rooms and gym – to expand the social area and kitchen as well as
adding a pitched roof.
Meanwhile, on the pitch head coach Shane Tupaea has been working on open
age and under-18’s player fitness at Lees-based Viking Gym, where attendance
numbers have been good.
Pre-season training starts on Tuesday, January 7 at Viking and all former and
new players are welcome. Sessions will be on
Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30pm-8pm, with one night per week at a
local 3G pitch.
Rangers will compete in Division One of the National Conference League from
March and have been invited to participate in prestigious competition the
2014 Tetley’s Challenge Cup.
A total of 44 community clubs will compete in the first two knockout
rounds, with the draw to be made in January and ties played on February 1
and February 22 respectively.
Winning teams will face semi-professional opposition in the third round
(March 15/16) before the Super League clubs – including holders Wigan
Warriors – enter the fray in the fourth (April 5/6).
Anyone wishing to ‘Buy a Brick’ should contact Saddleworth Rangers
secretary Peter Townsend on 07802 908412 to pledge their name and make
their donation.
Join Saddleworth Rangers for their Burns Night celebrations on
Thursday, January 23 at The White Hart, Lydgate. Tickets cost £35 per
person or £350 for a table. Due to popularity there is limited availability so please book soon to
avoid disappointment. Contact Terry Flanagan for more details or tickets:
07802 302982.
For more details about Saddleworth Rangers visit:
www.pitchero.com/clubs/saddleworthrangersarlfc
