Market Harborough lighting up their centenary season
Market Harborough RUFC in South Leicestershire was formed in 1923 and has a men’s first team playing in Midlands Division Region 2 East Midlands and a recently formed women’s team in the Midlands NC3 (East) League. A strong age grade section provides enjoyment of rugby for up to 500 young players. Part owned, part leased, the club’s facilities include seven rugby pitches.
However, with hundreds training on mid-week evenings, the one match pitch, plus one and a half training pitches with lighting, could not cope with demand and power limitations meant if there was a game, the training lights couldn’t go on.
Cancelled training consternation
In the autumn of 2021, when training had to be cancelled because of an evening game, the club decided to approach Harborough District Council regarding their playing pitch strategy covering sporting pitch availability. They explained how demand on the lit areas meant pitches invariably became worn out causing lost training time.
RFU recommended lighting providers provided quotations and funding was sought. The plan was to create five floodlit pitches, one to 200 Lux and four 100 Lux match pitches, plus off-pitch training and low -level bollards allowing for pedestrian access to further pitches. Costs rose to more than £250,000 in total when the project required an additional electricity sub-station and a new supply delivered to the club.
Local reputation for inclusive rugby
Undeterred, the club made a sound business case for the lighting project and presented it to the local funding committees and charities. Having a great reputation locally for its focus on inclusive rugby for all won the club support and saw the project fully funded, from a combination of Section 106 development fund monies, the rest coming from The Harborough District Leisure Trust, Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity and the Howard Watson Symington memorial charity.
Now, not only does the club have more space to use, it can also use it whether there is a match on or not, so training isn’t cancelled. Pitches are no longer overused because of all four lit training pitches and other lit training areas, in addition to the main playing pitch.
The new lights are all energy efficient LEDs, allowing the club to increase lit space while reducing energy usage.
Win-win situation
It’s a real win-win situation at Market Harborough with everyone benefitting,: age grade players, the adult men’s teams, the women’s team and members playing touch or walking rugby. The club is at the heart of the community and, run by fantastic volunteers, it gives free use of facilities to local schools and partners with the local athletics club too.
Mike Fletcher, club vice chairman and chair of the age grade section said: “We were delighted to have the official switch on of our lights in front of the guests from the local council and charities whose financial support had made this project possible.
"There was match played on the same night, but we could train simultaneously on four other pitches. We are extremely grateful for the support which allowed us to achieve this development. Being a community-focused club, inclusive to all, meant we secured support from both the council and the local charities who support community projects. To deliver such a fantastic resource in our centenary season made it all the more satisfying.
"We have a much better understanding of our energy usage and are now much more energy-efficient. We hope the government recognises the challenges faced by community sports clubs during this energy price crisis and supports them to continue operating.”
