Hemel secure Sport England/Football Foundation funding

[gingerjon]

Saw this on the Community board, thought it could do with a wider audience. Some good news.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid037j1ocgKfR7eGqJgSEseDmWj6taJXmc8YnqRCcU4ybMcnD8N6edFnkbhxQhP7wkXwl&id=61568398817776

Hemel have a six figure grant (with them contributing 25% of costs) to upgrade the pitch at Pennine Way to ensure year round usage.

[Archie Gordon]

It's brilliant news. Hemel's facilities have been constantly improving recently and it is a great base for the club. It's also becoming the de facto home of community RL in the region - great hosts for finals, rep games, etc. Looking forward to Summer 2026.

[langpark]

2 hours ago, Archie Gordon said:

It's brilliant news. Hemel's facilities have been constantly improving recently and it is a great base for the club. It's also becoming the de facto home of community RL in the region - great hosts for finals, rep games, etc. Looking forward to Summer 2026.

Brilliant news indeed.  And yes, the more we can hold these bigger community RL events at RL-owned grounds like this, the better!  It seems to me, Hemel might just be the most financially robust club in Southern England.

[newbe]

Think it shows if you run a financially sound club, and know how to apply for grants. Things can improve so it attracts players men and women. Although an amateur club I think there are lot clubs amateur n semi pro could learn a lesson or two.

[Eddie]

Good news that they’re sorting the stand out too, which was cordoned off last time I went due to safety issues. 

[Hemel Rugby League]

The pitch funding project was almost three years in the making and the club held off from sorting out the grandstand issues until the ground funding was resolved. 

The grandstand came from the 2012 Olympics (it was used at Earls Court for the indoor volleyball) and while of the highest quality the decking is wooden and it all needs replacing at significant cost.

While the original purpose of the grandstand was to accommodate League 1 etc crowds, the club recognises that having such a facility makes Pennine Way a more welcoming environment for community rugby league.

[EssexRL]

Given all the challenges the game faces down here the fact that Hemel have remained a presence for so long and manage things like this is so encouraging. I used to enjoy watching them when I lived in Watford many years ago. Congratulations to all involved - we need more clubs like them down here.

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

3 hours ago, EssexRL said:

Given all the challenges the game faces down here the fact that Hemel have remained a presence for so long and manage things like this is so encouraging. I used to enjoy watching them when I lived in Watford many years ago. Congratulations to all involved - we need more clubs like them down here.

Could Hemel produce a good practice guide to share with other clubs in non-heartland areas ? 

[Yosser]

Great news.  Good to see the legacy of Bob Brown's work in the early years still lives on.

[Adelaide Tiger]

5 hours ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

Could Hemel produce a good practice guide to share with other clubs in non-heartland areas ? 

I have thought for many years that the RFL ought to have put together a ‘Community Club Pack’ providing advice and contacts for community clubs across a number of themes such as Grant application, how to approach potential sponsors, templates for clubs to use aimed at attracting players of all ages etc.  Apologies if the RFL do this.

As an afterthought - and I have completed many success grant fund bids - how do community clubs get to know about Grant Funding?  Is it potluck?  Grant funding for such clubs can come from many sources not just Sports related.

So, could the RFL have a page available on their website specifically for  anyone to add the contact details of any Grant Funding that they become aware of? 

 

[Archie Gordon]

2 hours ago, Adelaide Tiger said:

I have thought for many years that the RFL ought to have put together a ‘Community Club Pack’ providing advice and contacts for community clubs across a number of themes such as Grant application, how to approach potential sponsors, templates for clubs to use aimed at attracting players of all ages etc.  Apologies if the RFL do this.

As an afterthought - and I have completed many success grant fund bids - how do community clubs get to know about Grant Funding?  Is it potluck?  Grant funding for such clubs can come from many sources not just Sports related.

So, could the RFL have a page available on their website specifically for  anyone to add the contact details of any Grant Funding that they become aware of? 

 

The RFL does have this: https://www.rugby-league.com/get-involved/club-support

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

Unless it’s just me the link to the funding bit doesn’t work …wonder if Salford helped With that one ….

[JohnM]

2 hours ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

Unless it’s just me the link to the funding bit doesn’t work …wonder if Salford helped With that one ….

https://www.rugby-league.com/get-involved/club-support/community-investment-&-funding-

[JonM]

16 hours ago, EssexRL said:

we need more clubs like them down here.

We need more clubs like them everywhere.  Another 10-20 stable/ self-sustaining clubs with their own pitch(es), clubhouse, boys (and girls) teams through all the age groups, ideally with a couple of adult teams too, would make a massive difference to RL in this country. Even better if, like Hemel, they're in places with little other RL activity nearby.

[JM2010]

35 minutes ago, JonM said:

We need more clubs like them everywhere.  Another 10-20 stable/ self-sustaining clubs with their own pitch(es), clubhouse, boys (and girls) teams through all the age groups, ideally with a couple of adult teams too, would make a massive difference to RL in this country. Even better if, like Hemel, they're in places with little other RL activity nearby.

Completely agree. Would be great to see a good number of clubs like Hemel across London, the SE and Midlands. 
Are there any other clubs in the South/Midlands like Hemel?

[Tommygilf]

The only expansion project the RFL (Not things in SL or RLC or semi pro game) should be focused on is saying how do we get 50 to 100 Hemel Stags type clubs set up across the country over the next 50 years. 

[Eddie]

32 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

Completely agree. Would be great to see a good number of clubs like Hemel across London, the SE and Midlands. 
Are there any other clubs in the South/Midlands like Hemel?

Yes there are a number of stronger clubs than Hemel. And that’s not to deride Hemel, who are doing some great stuff. 

[Styx]

15 hours ago, Yosser said:

Great news.  Good to see the legacy of Bob Brown's work in the early years still lives on.

Bob is still going strong at Hemel. I was there for the Southern Womens Championship "Magic Round" on Sunday, which Hemel hosted. It was good to catch up with Bob and hear of their plans.

[EssexRL]

On 05/06/2025 at 21:37, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

Could Hemel produce a good practice guide to share with other clubs in non-heartland areas ? 

I think that's a really good point. The game should try to see what factors have driven their longevity. If they can do it in an part of the country that has no obvious awareness of the game, the model should be replicable any where.

[Hemel Rugby League]

The first chapter in the guide would be very short but the most important one - 'Where will you Play'

When Hemel started in 1981 the local Council offered them the choice of 2 pitches:

One was the overflow pitch for the local ru club and offered potential access to that club's facilities and playing resources.

The other was on the other side of town and  was actually a 130m long hurling pitch with 'H' shaped posts on it and little else apart from some dodgy changing rooms. Hemel rugby league chose that pitch as they wanted to be as far away as possible from the local rugby union club.

Today that site is known as the Pennine Way Sports Stadium and is controlled by the rugby league club.

[langpark]

11 hours ago, Hemel Rugby League said:

The first chapter in the guide would be very short but the most important one - 'Where will you Play'

When Hemel started in 1981 the local Council offered them the choice of 2 pitches:

One was the overflow pitch for the local ru club and offered potential access to that club's facilities and playing resources.

The other was on the other side of town and  was actually a 130m long hurling pitch with 'H' shaped posts on it and little else apart from some dodgy changing rooms. Hemel rugby league chose that pitch as they wanted to be as far away as possible from the local rugby union club.

Today that site is known as the Pennine Way Sports Stadium and is controlled by the rugby league club.

Was there an element of "right place at the right time" involved?  Would local councils still be so generous now in 2025?

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

28 minutes ago, langpark said:

Was there an element of "right place at the right time" involved?  Would local councils still be so generous now in 2025?

Councils often want to offload various assets such as sports fields/facilities. 

[langpark]

1 minute ago, Pen-Y-Bont Crusader said:

Councils often want to offload various assets such as sports fields/facilities. 

"offload" as in donate, or sell?

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

31 minutes ago, langpark said:

"offload" as in donate, or sell?

Some cases it’s taking over running costs - it means there a a lot of volunteer help needed to do that. 

[fighting irish]

13 hours ago, Hemel Rugby League said:

The first chapter in the guide would be very short but the most important one - 'Where will you Play'

When Hemel started in 1981 the local Council offered them the choice of 2 pitches:

One was the overflow pitch for the local ru club and offered potential access to that club's facilities and playing resources.

The other was on the other side of town and  was actually a 130m long hurling pitch with 'H' shaped posts on it and little else apart from some dodgy changing rooms. Hemel rugby league chose that pitch as they wanted to be as far away as possible from the local rugby union club.

Today that site is known as the Pennine Way Sports Stadium and is controlled by the rugby league club.

Well done Bob!

Is this a hint, that you've started writing it, the guide?

Or is it your autobiography?

Well my old chum, I'm here cheering you on.

When we were starting up, you were such an inspirational character to us and you continue to be, even more so.