Moldgreen ARLFC
are one of three sports and recreation centres in Kirklees and Wakefield to
have won grants totalling £1.4m from Sport England to bolster community
facilities.

Sport England announced it has awarded £649,500 to the
Huddersfield based club, and secretary Jill Sykes was delighted. She said, “I
am absolutely delighted. The clubhouse that’s there at the moment was
a Portakabin that was given to us about 20 years ago and all the rugby lads
built around it and made it into a clubhouse.

“Unfortunately because it’s so tatty, it has been
the butt of vandalism and has just eaten up our money trying to secure it.”

She added, “Once it’s built it will be a tremendous
asset to the local community and I am sure it will prove popular in the local
community. I hope everyone will make full use of the excellent facilities, which
we hope to complete in August for the beginning of next season.”

As well as housing changing rooms and a bar, the £1.7m
project will also include a fitness suite, computer room, meeting rooms and
a new car park. The club has worked tirelessly and secured funding from the
Single Regeneration Budget, Kirklees MC and are also looking to secure a brewery
loan

The news will be a great boost to the Pennine League outfit,
who having already suffered a dozen break-ins had their clubhouse burnt down
by vandals just three years ago.

BARLA Chairman Maurice Oldroyd said, “This latest grant
from Sport England is a great boost to the Moldgreen club, who have experienced
difficult times over recent years. Credit must go to Jill Sykes and her hardworking
committee who have worked tenaciously to see their dreams come true.”

Over the years the club has produced many players who have
gone on to play professionally and even represent their country. They include
former Leeds Rhinos forwards Darren Fleary and Anthony Farrell, Castleford Tigers
prop Nathan Sykes and Seamus McCallion (Halifax).