Rugby club deal boosts local sport

Dec 22 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

COMMUNITY sport in Darlington has been given a major boost after a deal between Darlington Rugby Club and Darlington Borough Council.

The agreement will see council land next to Darlington RFC’s ground at Blackwell Meadows on the outskirts of the town transformed to provide two state-of-the-art sports pitches.

The new pitches will be used by Darlington College students and will also be available for sports clubs in the community to hire when not being used by the college or the rugby club.

Darlington Rugby Club is leasing the pitches from the council and will manage them on its behalf.

The arrangement means that users of the new pitches will also get access to the rugby club’s facilities.

Keith Wilkinson, associate at Ward Hadaway law firm, who provided advice to the rugby club, said: “We are delighted to have helped Darlington Rugby Club on this agreement, which provides an elegant solution to a number of issues.

“It is very rewarding to work on a scheme which sees several different organisations working towards a common goal and that provides the local community with something extra.”