Players at a rugby league club are looking forward to getting changed in newly installed buildings after years of changing in a World War Two air raid shelter.

New changing rooms, a pavilion and a club room were lowered into place at Wyke Recreation Ground – home of Wyke Amateur Rugby League Club – by a large crane yesterday afternoon.

The long-awaited new facilities come after the club obtained over £200,000 in funding from both Sport England and the Biffa Award, a group which awards funding from landfill tax credits.

The group had been looking for funding and permission for new buildings for over 20 years, but all the pieces started falling into place earlier this year.

The club had been using a brick shelter for changing since 1948, but it was recently deemed unfit for use and the team have changed at the nearby Appleton Academy building.

The new modular changing-room facilities will cater for 40 players, and the pavilion will provide a more modern setting to watch the rugby club’s on-field action.

Councillor David Warburton  said: “This is a far cry from the old facility. We have worked closely over many years to support new changing rooms.”
 

Coun Sarah Ferriby said: “This will be well utilised for both youth and open-age teams.”