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A 140-year-old community club has made a desperate appeal for funds as it scraps for its own financial survival.
Gravesend Rugby Football Club should be preparing for the highly-anticipated return of the sport but like many grassroots teams it faces an uncertain future in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The local outfit is designated as a Community Amateur Sports Club and boasts facilities for 400 members across tennis, bowls, cricket, wheelchair rugby and even pigeon fancying, among other sports.
Its illustrious history dates back to the club's ties with the old industrial paper mill which stipulated they all be banded together.
But it is this solidarity which proved to be its undoing when it applied for a £25,000 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant in March to stay afloat while the club was shut.
It had hoped the government would step in and offer some form of relief but as club chairman Mark Bruce explained this support was not forthcoming.
"We are effectively being penalised for having more than one club operating under the same umbrella," he said.
"A club such as ours serves the local community in more than one way and does not exist to make a profit, rather its sole purpose is to provide its members and the people of Gravesham with the best possible facilities it can at the most affordable rates."
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) published a six point road map for the return of community rugby earlier this month.
It sets out guidance on how the game can safely return including allowing teams to train in small groups of six and safely sharing equipment but physical contact remains banned and proper hand hygiene must be adhered to at all times.
The game's governing body say they will take advice from medical experts on the risk of spreading Covid-19 through face-to-face contact between individuals.
Alternative times for re-commencing the sport have also been identified with the end of October and the beginning of November scouted as potential restart dates.
In the meantime Gravesend RFC's home ground in Donald Biggs Drive has remained closed for fixtures while it attempts to source alternative funding.
It would normally have held various fundraising events including its popular beer festival and Summer Ball but these have been cancelled due to the current regulations and social distancing rules.
The club has attempted to fill the black hole in its finances through grants from the likes of Kent RFU, Charities Aid Foundation, and loan schemes with England RFU and the government Bounce-Back Loan.
But while the loans have been received only Sport England has provided any grant funding to date.
Mark said: “For a club such as ours which runs at no or little profit loan schemes are all well and good but like all loans they have to be repaid.
"We would therefore have to raise additional income in this time of uncertainty just to be able to repay them.
"Grants provide us with the assurance that monies are being spent where they are needed and keep us afloat without the added pressure of having to repay them.”
The club has been given renewed hope by the launch of Gravesham council's new discretionary grant which it says it intends to apply for.
But Mark says if the club is to make it next season it cannot rely on this type of funding alone to cover its running costs, as well as new posts, a scoreboard and equipment for its expanding wheelchair rugby team.
A crowdfunding page has now been set up and has already amassed more than £10,000 in donations.
But the club says more is needed if it is to reach its target of double that sum.
Mark said: “This crowdfunding initiative is the latest the club has sought to employ to ensure that not only we manage ourselves through the crisis but also make sure we open up and are ready to go whenever the rugby season starts again.
"We already have one of the best facilities in Kent and to continue to provide a top class sporting venue to the myriad of players, young and old, male or female who play at ground every week is our number one priority.
The club hopes to be able to reopen its clubhouse for business in line with the government guidelines shortly.
He added: “Many of the local community have visited and used our facilities, notably the outdoor space, during lockdown and it is my hope that we continue to see that moving forward.
"Any child/adult wishing to join the rugby club or one of its numerous sections are always welcome.”
To donate to Gravesend RFC's crowdfunder or to find out more information click here.
