Plans to install new floodlights at one of Morpeth Rugby Club’s pitches have been given a major funding boost.
The project was recently awarded a £50,000 grant from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund. Its total estimated cost is £60,000.
Currently in hours of darkness, training is undertaken with light from individual spotlights on several 10m high poles along one side of the pitch.
But this only lights small training areas and so the facilities are inadequate for ball handling sessions and match practice.
Morpeth Rugby Club President John Price said that an application for floodlights was turned down last October, but members were invited to re-apply in February.
“Everyone at the club is very pleased that we have received this grant because it rounds off our facilities and the new lights will allow us to run full training sessions and play games in the evening,” he added.
“If we receive planning permission, they will be installed on pitch two – the one furthest away from the road – at the field next to the clubhouse.
“The floodlights will improve the quality of training that we can do at the club and this will hopefully be beneficial on match days.”