Bradford Salem officially opened their £50,000 stand last Saturday before their Yorkshire Division One derby against Keighley.

The stand, which has been built over the existing terracing, has been a long time coming to fruition.

“We have had it in mind since we opened the first-team pitch against Harlequins in 1983!” said Salem’s first-team manager Neil Klenk.

“The money has pretty much all been found from sponsorship, while local businesses have also helped.

“Major players have been Town & Country Bespoke Building, Stocksfield Con-struction, Stainforth Construction, Bower Green and Manningham Concrete, and we also had help from the rbs Workforce Initiative.”

As is often the case, there were some last-minute jobs to complete, Simon Markey only finishing things off at 9pm the day before.

Yorkshire Rugby Football Union president Richard Matthews performed the tape-cutting ceremony, and said: “I am from an era where clubs were always looking to improve, and something like a stand opening can give a club a real focus.”

Salem president John Dobson said: “There will be a sponsors’ day later in the season.”