Rugby Club get funding promotion from councillors
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TURRIFF Rugby Football Club have received a significant boost after being granted almost £2750 from Formartine Area Committee.
The newest addition to the town's sporting fabric were handed the cash to aid with start-up costs and to help attract more local people.
Although they had applied for a £5000 donation, they could only receive the remainder of the committee's budget for the year, but will have grounds to apply for any surplus funding that may become available.
Having initially started out with only a few members at the start of the year, Turriff's membership has grown momentously.
The club are rigged to play competitive rugby in the Caledonia leagues as of next year having been given granted full SRU membership, and the Men's XV played their first ever friendly against Fraserburgh last month.
Councillor Anne Stirling had commented that there was "a need" to support the group, who had been "pro-active within the community" in recruiting new members.
Club president John Hester was delighted that councillors had pledged the funding, and believed that interest had only grown on the back of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
He said: "It's brilliant news for us, it helps get the club established and like any new club, starting up costs with equipment and the like can go a long way.
"Hopefully it can benefit the community by offering rugby for all.
“Numbers have continued to be really good – we've had between 25 and 30 turn up to every training session – from all walks, ages and genders.
“Hopefully it is a bit to do with the coverage of the World Cup and also the curiosity of this new club in Turriff, and what it can offer people.”
Mr Hester also conceded that talks between the club and Aberdeenshire Council towards finding a new pitch for the club to play and train were at a "mature" stage, and was hopeful that concrete proposals could be laid down in the coming weeks.
The club have also created a presence in the community through the sale of branded bobble hats – with 60 being shifted in a couple of days – which has helped support cancer research.
He explained: "The hats are part of a collaboration with Oddballs whose profits go towards research into testicular cancer.
"It's a charity that is close to the hearts of the rugby players as some of them have been affected personally.
"It made sense for the collaboration to celebrate Turriff RFC but also the fact that we can give something back to a good cause."
