Howe of Fife Rugby Plans

It's hoped work to build a new sports pavilion in Cupar's Duffus Park can begin by early 2015 with completion earmarked for 2016.

Howe of Fife Rugby Club members have so far raised more than £935, 000 to build the facility in Duffus Park.

Club members are working hard to raise an additional £500, 000 and have already received the backing of rugby legends Doddy Weir and John Beattie.

The pavilion will provide state-of-the-art facilities for sportsmen as well as meeting and changing facilities.

Peter Southcott, a partner with accountancy firm Carters who handle both the Bruce Charitable and Miss A M Pilkington Charitable Trusts, confirmed the Trustees had been convinced by the benefits to the community of the project.

"Trustees were very impressed by the comprehensive training programme being carried out by the Howe of Fife and they could see the benefits the facility could provide for the wider community."

The award from the Bruce Charitable Trust is for £20,000 and from the Miss A M Pilkington Charitable Trust £10,000 and they go towards the estimated £1.4 million required to build the new facility.

Russell Ferguson, senior vice president of Howe of Fife rugby club, described the awards as being very important as they demonstrated that the project had strong local support.

"Any award gives the project a boost but getting two large awards from local trusts confirms that what we are doing is right. The new centre will help provide twenty first century facilities not only for 'would be' rugby players but also for other sports people who currently have either no or inadequate changing and meeting facilities."

He added that another important component of the new facility would be the café facility.

"Every week, we see many parents who bring their children to practice having to wait about. Often the weather is bad and the café would provide a warm retreat while their youngsters train."

Meanwhile Howe of Fife club members are also doing their bit to raise funds for the project. The latest to 'put his body' on the line was Matt Keeble who along with Rachel Baxter raised £250 through getting sponsorship for taking part in the Tough Mudder event.

"It really was tough going but it was also a good feeling to raise funds for this project."

Bill Robertson, the President of the Howe of Fife Rugby Club, is telling us how people can donate.