The region’s largest football club is in desperate need of new changing facilities, but it has hit a stumbling block.
Richmond Football Club has been based at Jubilee Park since 1964 and has operated out of the same converted farmhouse since the late 1960s. But as the club has grown, its facilities have not, and committee members say it needs help to realise its vision for the club.
With around 500 members including seven senior teams, the club is one of the biggest is the Tasman region and often has four senior games, featuring eight teams, playing on the same afternoon. For these eight teams there are just two changing rooms.
Richmond committee member Nick Rose says that’s not ideal, particularly for senior women’s teams.
“It’s not a safe place for them to get changed, they often get changed on the deck [in front of the clubrooms] or come already in their playing strip. Changing facilities would make the sport more appealing for more players.”
Along with football, the current facility is also used by Waimea Toi Toi United Cricket Club in the summer and Special Olympics.
Richmond Football Club chairman, Chris Sibbald, says the club would like to see it used as a multi-sport facility.
“With the growth of the Richmond West subdivision we’re seeing more people wanting to play football here, and with the huge success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, we’d love to have more girls and women play here too, but we need the facilities.”
The club has had plans drawn by a local architect and received quotes from building companies, but is hitting a brick wall when it comes to funding the project which is expected to be around $500,000.
“Council are generally supportive and have said that we could do it,” says Nick.
“And funders have said they’re happy to support but they want it to be ‘shovel-ready’, that’s where we’re stuck. We’re a volunteer committee and we don’t have the expertise to take it to the next stage. We’d love for someone to help us get the ball rolling and help us deliver this project which will be of huge value to the wider Richmond community.”
Anyone who thinks they could help the club can contact Nick at president@richmondathletic.co.nz
