User:Thatcham RFC

Thatcham R.F.C. is an English rugby union club, which runs sides across Men's, Junior and Mini rugby. The 1st XV will play in Southern Counties North for season 2020-21. The club is located in the Town of Thatcham on the outskirts of Newbury in West Berkshire. Thatcham RFC has a unique standing in English Rugby Union as the only club believed to have become affiliated to the RFU as a Mini Rugby Club after its formation in 1981. Without a clubhouse for many years the club used various pubs around Thatcham as a base, the first being The Swan Inn which supplied changing facilities and meeting rooms free of charge and latterly, for post-match entertainment The Crickets and then Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club. In 2012 the Club had grown significantly, and it was decided to build their own clubhouse. The ground was broken in September 2015 for a new clubhouse to be built at Henwick Field in Thatcham. This involved trying raise some £400,000 and this was found with help from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities, grants from the Greenham Common Trust and the RFU, loans from The Rugby Football Foundation and Berks RFU and a substantial amount raised by club members. The club has signed a 35-year lease with West Berkshire Council, which owns the Henwick Field.