Rugby players take on building challenge with Trust support

RUGBY players are tackling a building project to improve their own changing rooms.

Members of the Widnes Vikings Rugby Club reserve team Alex Brown and Alex Gerrard have been getting stuck into the construction with support from Halton Housing Trust.

They are helping the Trust’s expert builders, joiners and plasterers with the renovation – demolishing the existing end wall and laying foundations for an extension.

Tim Holmes, a coach at the club, said: “At the moment it is very standard with just benches.  This work will make the changing rooms more of a professional space for a rugby club.

“We are pleased two of our players are helping with the renovation, it will keep their feet on the ground!”

Halton Housing Trust’s new apprentice plasterer Leon McCormick, 18, is among those working on the Vikings’ project.

In return for providing its expertise, the Trust will have its name on the walls of the new changing rooms.

Dave Webster, Halton Housing Trust’s Project Manager, said: “This has been an ideal learning experience for Leon.

“Both the rugby players are really keen and have been getting stuck in alongside our experienced guys. They work hard on the rugby pitch, but I think they used muscles on this job that they didn’t know they had.”
 
The extension will house a new storage area for training gear and room for warm-up equipment.

The extra space will also mean players will have their own areas within the changing rooms to help them prepare for matches and wind down afterwards.

Work is now underway and it is hoped it will be finished by the end of February when games start up again.

The facilities need to be able to handle the rough and tumble of rugby – they are used by up to 40 players and coaches every week.

 “The changing rooms need to be hard wearing. They are used by the first team, reserves and junior Vikings so they take quite a battering,” said Tim.

“The extension will add five foot to the length of the room, which will give players and coaches more of a working area. It is like a home for players during a match so it will be good for them to have their own space.”