FINAL REPORT ON THE RED LION 150 CAMPAIGN
Background
Historically CURUFC always supported itself as a result of receiving significant Varsity Match income. This worked reasonably well until 2008, but the combination of the financial crash, changing city attitudes, the loss of the major sponsorship from Lehman and then Nomura, the continued growth of professional rugby, and of course the competition from four Twickenham Internationals in the month before the traditional Varsity Match fixture date presented a challenging situation – a perfect storm in fact!
Despite the difficult financial situation and the inevitable reduction of costs resulting from this, CURUFC still managed to:
• Fully integrated Cambridge Women’s Rugby into CURUFC
• Formed a robust rugby development programme and pathway,
• Consolidated the Access Committees designed to support applicants to increase the quality of teams
• CURUFC’s Men and Women raised funds for a new Strength and Conditioning facility, co-financed generously by one of the Club’s local sponsors.
• Supported the running of the Red Lion Bursary Fund distributing the generous donations of a number of Alumni
• Helped establish the Varsity Match Company Ltd to focus on the development of the Varsity Matches at Twickenham
• Started to deliver significant funds through the Club’s relationships and initiatives with local businesses
• Both the Women and Men had won three out of the last four Varsity Matches
The Club had a significant operational financial deficit in each of the four financial years ending June 2017. This deficit was covered by drawing from the club’s reserve fund, and from generous donations at the early stage of the Campaign. The University helped with a one-off grant for the season 2017/18 to cover the operational deficit.
Development Plan
In 2017 a strategy was created to re-establish a stable financial position for Cambridge rugby and to make provision for on-going operating and infrastructure provision which was based on a four-legged approach.
1. To further develop local sponsorship and support for Grange Road operations.
This has been successful with local corporate support now over £80,000 per annum with a target of £100,000. We also had support from the local building industry to redecorate and refurbish the pavilion exterior.
2. To progressively increase contributions from the Varsity Match Company Limited (VMCL).
This has been difficult to achieve with covid intervening. Work continues in this area but it may be some years before this becomes a significant revenue stream again for CURUFC.
3. To continue discussions with the University about supporting Grange Road including future development projects.
This has been highly successful. See Campaign Report and the Appendix on Grange Road.
4. Use the opportunity of the club’s 150th anniversary to undertake the Red Lion 150 Campaign to raise funds for rugby at Cambridge University; the Campaign target being to yield a regular annual income of £150,000. The funds to be used directly for:
a) Training and Player Support
b) Bursaries
The aim was to achieve a mixture of regular monthly/quarterly/yearly donations from a large group of givers as well as to create an Investment Fund from larger gifts.
Campaign Report
The Campaign Chair Mark Bailey described how CURUFC provided opportunities, experiences and friendships that shaped his life, and asked alumni and supporters to engage in the Campaign to ensure that future generations of university players have this same opportunity. We are delighted that this was the case.
The Campaign had three significant and successful events - the Legends Dinner in April 2017, the RWC Dinner in September 2019 and the 150th Anniversary Dinner in November 2021. An Auction of Promises ran at all three providing significant funding for the Campaign. We published a brilliant history of CURUFC which has been well received. All required huge amounts of organisation and our thanks go to Jeremy Macklin, Rob Heginbotham, and Austin Jessop for their unstinting efforts in making them possible.
The naming of seats at £5,000 proved popular and as had been hoped a good number of supporters and past players signed up to regular giving. The club now has nearly £500,000 in an investment fund and with regular giving it means that the Club has a regular annual income towards Player Support and Bursaries of around £115,000.
The discussions with the University were helped by the Club’s efforts with local sponsors and the engagement of Alumni with the Campaign. They came to a positive conclusion and In December 2020 we had the excellent news that from 20/21 onwards the University have agreed to give a significant recurring grant to CURUFC for the purpose of running and maintaining Grange Road. Added to this they are heavily involved with CURUFC looking to further develop Grange Road (see Appendix). We thank Graham Virgo, now former Pro VC Education for his guidance and support in this area.
Going Forward
There is still work to be done. As previously reported the one-off University Grant in 2017/18 and successful Varsity Matches. In 2017 and 2018 saw the deficit come under control. The years 19/20, 20/21 and 21/22 all were impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic which also had a negative impact of Varsity Match income leading to greater losses than had been anticipated. The success of the Campaign and the grant from the University meant that we had hoped to nearly break even before depreciation in 22/23. However, as with all small businesses, the impact of increased energy prices (an approximate £25,000 per annum) means we must continue to strive to find further sources of income.
The intention is to continue recruiting people to give regularly to the club. All leavers will be asked to give. There will be regular phone campaigns to thank people involved in regular giving to keep them abreast of the club’s progress, and to encourage others to join. Encouragement will be given to join The Canon Gray Society by pledging a legacy to CURUFC. An online version of the Auction of Promises will also be launched.
As part of the Ground development plans, we will look to find funding for the redevelopment of the current Pavilion (see Appendix).
We are delighted that James Howell, former Development Director of Gonville and Caius will be taking over the role as Chair of Development at CURUFC. To undertake this work, we need volunteers to help. Please contact him should feel able to do so.
Jeremy Macklin, Chair of Development
To give a regular donation to CURUFC please click here and to give a one-off donation click here. For information about the Club’s Legacy Scheme (The Canon Gray Society) please contact Matthew Chester.
Appendix: Potential Development of Grange Road
Since 2018 CURUFC has been working alongside the University on the redevelopment of Grange Road, which is part of the University Strategic Plan for Sport.
The standard of changing within the pavilion had become an embarrassment. Externally the pavilion was in poor repair. The facilities were constructed 100 years ago for Men’s 15 a side team. We now have Men’s and Women’s teams with replacements so there are 23 players in a squad and consequently the changing rooms are far too small. The internal toilets were not adequate for the numbers involved nor mixed usage and last changed over 50 years ago. The external Women’s toilet facilities were humiliating. Medical access and space were inadequate: There were no accessible toilet facilities for the disabled and wheelchair users are unable to access the pavilion, use the bar or view the pitch from a safe, covered location.
As mentioned, the exterior of the Pavilion was refurbished by local businesses in Summer 2020. With use of the monies from the University grant several other small developments have taken place: The medical room and external Women’s toilets were reconfigured and refurbished in 2021, including the construction of a disabled toilet. In Summer 2022 the same process was undertaken for the changing room showers and toilets.
There are now three further larger phases of development:
Phase 1: A small extension at the East side of the pavilion and knocking through the west side of the pavilion to increase the size of the changing rooms. To redevelop the West end of the Pavilion terrace for wheelchair access and viewing. As part of the agreement with the University for funding CURUFC has agreed to try and obtain funding for this Phase. (Cost c£400,000).
Phase 2: This would see a floodlit 3G pitch surface at Grange Road which will enable more use of the ground, badly needed for Rugby as much as for other sports. (Cost c £1,500,000).
Phase 3: The continual usage of an artificial pitch would need more facilities. To accommodate these a redevelopment of the Bar and Dining areas to create two further changing rooms, meeting rooms, further medical and officials’ accommodation as well as larger entertaining facilities is planned. (Cost c£2,500,000)
The funding for Phases 2 and 3 will be driven by the University and in particular by CUDAR.
Planning application for Phase 1 is being sought and detailed discussions regarding Phases 2 and 3 are underway.
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