Hire of Clubhouse and Clubhouse info 3 of 3

3. The Opening of the New Club House


The Warlingham Club House was opened in 2005 by Martin Johnson
Martin Johnson, England's World Cup-winning rugby captain, declared Warlingham's re-built clubhouse officially open on 18th November 2005, to a standing ovation from 300 members and guests attending the club's opening dinner.

The Warlingham clubhouse has been developed at a cost of close to £450,000, representing the biggest investment in rugby infrastructure in the south-east since England's famous World Cup victory in Sydney two years ago ­ with the singular exception of Twickenham itself.

"I'd like to congratulate Warlingham on the achievement of getting this splendid clubhouse built and give you all my best wishes in using it to help develop the club in the future," Johnson said after being accepted as a life vice-president of Warlingham.

"When it comes down to it, this is where we all started the game, it is clubs like this that it is all about," Johnson said.

As well as attending the club dinner, Johnson also made a special appearance earlier in the evening at neighbouring Warlingham School in front of 300 members of Warlingham's thriving junior and mini-sections.

The main part of the extension is a huge enlargement of the club's main room together with a new solid floor. There is also a new second level across part of the building, which will house a gymnasium, treatment room and office. Then a new industrial kitchen has been fitted to enable the club to cater for large events in house. Finally, the overall structure is now covered by a new stainless steel roof, rather than the previous 19 separate ones!

So how was it funded? After several failed attempts at Lottery Funding, the Club had to access other areas of finance ­ but received no gift aid from any organisation.

This is how. £110,000 from Club liquid reserves, £100,000 loan towards the building from the Rugby Football Foundation £25,000 loan from Surrey County Playing Fields Association £25,000 loan (hinged to barrelage consumption) from Greene King £190,000 funded through Club members in loans and donations together with other fund-raising activities. The Opening Dinner evening raised over £20,000