Club Development Project Update

We builders and project managers make promises every day of the week about completion dates etc for construction schemes and along the way events or circumstances torpedo our programmes. However, many months ago and with my crown jewels firmly on the line I suggested to the Committee that Phase 1 (changing rooms) of our 3 Phase £500k project would be completed by the end of February 2007 and I am delighted to confirm that I won’t be walking like John Wayne or having just had a vasectomy.

Today the 1 st and 2 nd teams and our opponents Bedford Athletic and Cinderford respectively will be using 4 of our 8 new changing rooms for the first time and I am announcing that fact whilst enduring a last “challenge Anneka” style week having been let down by one of our suppliers (not subcontractors) for the flues for the boilers! Could we be back to cold showers again so soon?

It has not been easy but we are almost there with the first phase and that is not without considerable support and effort by many who have given of their time free of charge aside from the contractors who have been coerced and bullied by me to meet the budgets and deadlines. There are too many notable people to name them in this brief piece and they will all be lauded next spring 2008 when we plan to hold our official opening for the whole project at the end of the rugby season in the decent weather- possibly in May.

However, I feel bound to thank one or two notables for their help and generosity so far starting with Tarmac who have supported this Club for many years and have always been most generous sponsors. Following a meeting with their top man Tim Hall and his right hand man Derek Smith we ended up with some cracking (farmer type) once in a lifetime deals on all of their products (car park yet to come lads ok??)

I expect that you all know about our free roof covering (saving £15k) supplied and fitted by Whites roofing who have become equally generous supporters of Luctonians. Our Merv who was a shandy drinking football team manager with Leominster Minors has finally seen the light having been converted to the glorious game by our Kenny. On the strength of this he promised me a free roof and delivered even having to press gang a well know local ex jockey in Cecil Price to help on the Saturday morning in the process.

Other notables which deserve a mention (you have heard enough about Knock-on Knight, Andrew Last and Guy the Gorrilla by now – cheers again chaps) would be Priday Construction who laid the concrete beams and blocks utilising their man Owen Price of the Hair Bear Bunch. The turd team boys being Martin Bufton and Turbo Williams (shouldn’t he be farming with the old timer??) have built walls and laid slabs. Vice President Kevin Village has mucked in with The Gorrilla in various areas and Mo Morris has put up all the ceilings with Paul Suter. Mo being an ex turd teamer moving up to be 2 nd team regular is now a 1 st team impact player.

I would like to have mentioned the 1 st team painting work party which Tracy organised, who arrived to start work just before the England v Italy game, by the time they had started so had the international and the bar was open so that was that. Guess who they were?? Don’t worry we’ll get you again lads there’s plenty more to do!! If you feel that I have missed you out at this juncture then it is only due to space in the programme – there will be a full table of honour produced for the end of project beano next year. We have you all written down.

Phase 1, the easiest, is complete and on budget, Phase 2 is about to start immediately with the tricky demolition, service alterations and structural elements. Phase 3 is scheduled for later. We are on budget so far but are short of funds for furnishing the new premises which is where the buy a brick campaign comes in. If you haven’t already done so and would like to help see Don Jaques or Burky and get yourself a humorous plaque sorted out. We are aware that it is the same old pockets that we are continually dipping into but you can see we are making real progress now – when it’s all done I promise I’ll stop badgering you for stuff!!

Finally Burky’s favourite bit – the anticipated programme of works with which to whip me (again):-

Phase2. Officials Changing Rooms, Admin Office and Toilets – completed end August 2007 (approx)

Phase 3. Clubroom, Bar and Kitchen – completion of the project by the end of 2007.

The total success of this development is still reliant on committed fundraising – don’t forget to buy or sell one of the Chairman’s bricks or maybe some raffle tickets and importantly keep drinking the beer! Cheers.

tomothebuilder