Castleford RUFC is looking forward to a wider community involvement in sport as a whole as the country looks to become more active as the pandemic’s restrictions are gradually lifted.
In addition to its senior teams, juniors and girls returning to training the club are hoping that their facilities can attract a wider demographic. Rugby League Masters side, Castleford Masters who have recently re branded from their previous name of Methley Masters, will train and play their home games at the Willowbridge headquarters of the club, which also hosted a football camp run by locally based, GT Sports, over the Easter holidays.
The club’s longstanding committee member, Alan Wandless, is pleased that different sports are going to use the facilities and said, “We have always styled ourselves as a family-based club with its heart in the community and we are looking to deliver more sport to more local people. We welcome Castleford Masters RL and hope that they will see it as their new home. It has been great to see the number of young children enjoying themselves on our fields during their holidays. "
Castleford Masters had their well-attended first training session last week and secretary, Frank Slater said “We are delighted to be associated with the club and very grateful for the opportunity to have the club as our new home. The facilities are second to none and everyone within the club has welcomed us with open arms. We are really looking forward to the coming season and also helping in any way we can with the club’s community efforts”. They'll train every Tuesday and Thursday from 7.00 and are looking forward to playing their first RL Masters’ League home match on Saturday 19th June, kick off 1.30pm.
GT Sports are bringing their football and multi-sport expertise to widen the offering of activities at the club and, in addition to holding their Easter holiday camps at the club, they will be starting their Football Centre sessions here from Friday 16th April. GT Sports’ Glenn Thornton appreciates the facilities that the club have and added “We had a superb week at our first ever Football Camp in Castleford. It was a very enjoyable time for all the participants and our staff. Thanks must go to Castleford RUFC for providing us with a great facility to be able to host a camp and on the second day they even pitched in with some rugby practice, which our footballers enjoyed."
Castleford RUFC, with the support of funding from Wakefield Council’s Neighbourhood Improvement Fund, will be working with GT Sports to run a 10-week long Families Together fun exercise and games programme for all the family from 7th May at Willowbridge Lane.