ONE OF Plymouth's largest rugby clubs is appealing for the local community to rally behind it to ensure its continued success.

Plymstock Oaks Rugby Club, based at Horsham Fields in Staddiscombe, was granted planning permission six months ago to develop the existing clubhouse into a multi-use community provision that benefits the whole city – but it is struggling to raise vital funds.

The club, which currently has over 300 playing members, needs £600,000 to provide facilities necessary for a first class sports organisation.

The development work includes providing changing rooms for the adult and youth teams as well as for the ladies teams, modern kitchen facilities to enable food to be provided to all the players, bar and leisure facilities, use of sustainable solar energy and a function room.

Split into three phases, the first stage would see an extension to the front of the building housing the kitchen, plant room, bar and leisure facilities, the second stage would see an extension to the rear of the building housing changing facilities, and the final phase will see all existing facilities totally refurbished to the Rugby Football Union standards.

Nigel Higginson, chairman of the club, said: "We have outgrown the existing building and in order for the club to be able to progress we need to be able to offer more to the players.

"We need £300,000 for the first phase, which we hope to have completed by May next year, but so far we have £20,000 in the funding pot – not even enough to buy the shovels!

"Trying to secure funding is not easy and we have a team of volunteers tirelessly working to secure money from various sources but we need the community to get right behind us.

"If we had a clubhouse we could hold lots of fundraiser's, but that's what we are trying to raise money for – it's a catch 22 situation.

"We have 220 children on our books from age six to sixteen – in effect that's 440 parents – if only five per cent of them came forward and helped the club with planning and fundraising it would make such a difference."

The club, which boasts a history dating back to 1927, also hopes to be able to open the sport up to disabled people, including those with downs syndrome and autism.

Mr Higginson said: "The only way the club can remain sustainable is to operate all year round. In the future we are looking to become a community sports club which will benefit people across the city, and not just those interested in rugby.

"Plymouth needs a club like this with great facilities which the whole city can use and enjoy – we are really grateful to those who have already got right behind us and appeal to others to help too."