Dinnington Rugby Union club wants to do its bit to help its community

Dinnington Rugby Union Club wants to expand and rebrand itself so it can provide sporting camaraderie and healthy lifestyle tips for the surrounding area.

The club’s trustees also want to recreate the feeling of neighbourhood unity once harnessed by the one-time Dinnington Miners’ Welfare organisation.

The welfare centre, which stood on Lodge Lane land opposite the rugby HQ, was flattened years ago.

Its base was a field that is to be transformed by 150 Barratt homes making up an estate to be called Thornberry Gardens.

More than £1 million is due to be paid by Barratt to help with varied sports improvements, as well as education for youngsters with additional needs.

Some of that cash could transform facilities at DRUFC — or at Dinnington High School, which is also looking to benefit from the windfall.

Ex-miner John Wain, facilities manager at DRUFC, said: “We would like to take over from where the old welfare was and do some of the things they did.

“The mining community used to raise money to support the wider community.

“Since then, Dinnington has lost everything.”

The pit and the welfare building closed, a swimming pool shut, green spaces are at a minimum and some local shops couldn’t survive, he said.

“If we can get to a position where that mining village and Welfare ethos returns it would be ideal.

“I think we have the basis here, from the club facilities we have got, to build a new community spirit.”

Stephen Hawley, DRUFC vice chairman, agreed, adding “Most of the sporting facilities have gone, but if we get funding, it could potentially kick start very different things for us.

“Part of our vision is for a sporting club with a much broader appeal.”

That could mean all-weather pitches, a multi-use games area, netball, hockey and basketball provision, and potentially a link-up with British Cycling.

Vice-chairman Mr Hawley concluded: “Those from 150 new households will be very welcome, but so will the rest of Dinnington and Anston.”

Improving the health and fitness of local youngsters is high up on the list of priorities for David Dixon, chairman of Dinnington Land Trust.

Mr Dixon, who wants an assault on child obesity, said: “The recommendation from Public Health England is that children aged ten to 14 should have eight hours exercise per week.

“Here some kids only have a couple, and that’s at school.

“If kids are having too many Mars bars, chips and kebabs and their heart rate doesn’t go above 100 they are not burning the calories off and it goes round their belly.”