Hartlepool Rovers celebrates £10,000 funding boost from The PFC Trust with rugby World Cup winner Neil Back

Hartlepool Rovers has announced a significant step forward in its plans to modernise its changing room facilities, marked by a special celebration with former England captain and Rugby World Cup winner Neil Back.

- By Paul Fraser Contributor

Back - who also was guest speaker at the club's fundraising sportsman's dinner last Friday night - was on hand to receive a generous £10,000 donation from local charity The PFC Trust on behalf of Rovers, a contribution that provides a huge boost to the vital project.

This latest injection of funds brings the club's ongoing crowdfunding efforts for the changing room project to an impressive total of almost £40,000.

With the estimated total project cost standing at £90,000, this demonstrates widespread support for the crucial improvements.

Rovers' James Turner, who is director of junior rugby, said: “We are now in a position where we could progress with the planning and there is no doubt about it that this investment is a significant step forward for us.

“What we have is a facility that is unappealing and discourages participation in many respects, but we can't facilitate children and adults, men and women, at the same time.

“A modern, fresh facility will increase our ability to deliver for those who want to take part in sport. We have a lot of history, dating back to 1879, and we now need to be more progressive, and prepared for the future.