Phase one consists of three ensuite changing rooms each with self-contained toilets, sinks, showers and changing facilities, and one self-contained ensuite changing room for match officials team.

Having previously obtained planning permission and undertaken some enabling works the club started it most recent transformation.

Over the past year you will have seen some dramatic changes to the club. On arrival, the car park has been mainly a building site, and just before Christmas the roof was taken off the club as demolition works to the internals of the original 1980s building were undertaken.

Early this year the ground works of the extension took shape to form the increased footprint of the new club changing facilities. These works included piling and digging foundations, foul drainage and block and beam floor for Phase one. We also took the opportunity to prepare for Phase two as well.

Once out of the ground the block and brickwork quickly formed the shape of both the external and internal building and it was clear that the RFU standard design would provide a huge improvement in terms of both operational flexibility and futureproofing whilst at the same time ensuring we meet the necessary safeguarding requirements.

The inverted roof structure was replaced only with a wider span to be in keeping with the existing building design, and the internal fit out commenced in early summer.

We installed Calor gas as previously we were an only electric site. The gas boiler system now supplies the hot water to the new toilets and showers as well as the heating system.
With the works completed we now stand in a much improved position to better serve the wide ranging membership of our growing club.

I'd like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank both the funding and grant providers that have enabled this first phase to be completed to the benefit of all that play for and against Crusaders, but also to the small group of dedicated volunteers that formed the DevCom, for your continued commitment to deliver on this much needed facilities upgrade.

We look forward now to Phase two - quite literally the ground has been prepared and funding remains the only barrier!

Pete Blinkhorn