Congleton Rugby Union Football Club (CRUFC) aims to raise up to £20,000 this November to support the club through the current pandemic.

The club wants to protect its future, enabling it to continue to provide a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for players, families and visitors.

Lockdown rules have resulted in a nationwide ban on competitive rugby since March 2020, a situation which could persist well into the new year.

For a club as small as CRUFC – which relies heavily on income generated from match days (both at the Senior level and with its burgeoning Mini and Junior section) – such a loss of revenue could be catastrophic to its chances of survival.

Already they have seen far too many local sports clubs go to the wall. Do not let CRUFC join their number.

The club is in urgent need of funds to offset the effects of the lockdown and also to make urgent repairs to the club house and changing facilities.

So that, once the ban is lifted, they are able once again to welcome players and visitors to a clubhouse that is modern, safe and comfortable.

A club house where they are happy to spend time and money while swapping stories about tries scored, tackles made and catches dropped.

They are therefore inviting members and friends of the club, residents of the town and surrounding areas, local businesses an those in the wider rugby community, to help the reach their target and help preserve the club for the benefit of the current generation of rugby players and all those who come after us.

The club has a proud history – being one of the oldest clubs in the world at 160 years young – and they have urged the community to give CRUFC the push it needs to be around for another 160 years and beyond.

Congleton is a thriving town, a growing town; with more and more families moving in all the time.

And we need our sports clubs to thrive as well, to provide an outlet for physically demanding and enjoyable sport played in an environment of core values that include teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.

So please, dig deep and help us get over the try line.

So far the crowdfund has raised £1,825, you can donate here.