Anniversary present for Warwick Juniors

The Juniors have led a nomadic existence since being formed by Dean Brandrick in 2001 as Woodloes Juniors.

Now running to 18 youth teams for both boys and girls as well as a disability and senior section, they have been forced to play their matches at a succession of school pitches in and around Warwick and Leamington.

However, thanks to a five-year tie-up with Warwickian Rugby Club, they will now be sharing the club’s Hampton Road ground.

“It’s brilliant news for us. It’s massive - a big step for the club,” said Brandrick, who is now Juniors’ president and secretary.

“It gives us a home. We can now have family days, six-a-sides, charity games and it also has all the league requirements for our development teams in the Midland Junior Premier League to move forward.

“It’s something we have always worked for. Now we can put a plaque up and call it home. And it’s in Warwick.”

In addition to providing a base for Warwick Juniors, Brandrick hopes the site will become a focal point for the community, with a wide mix of sports being housed there.

“We’ve got a five-year plan to get the club up and running and get the community involved.

“There’s bit of land to develop which will allow us to bring more teams in. It’s an open book and it’s still in its first stage.

“We’ll work with others and try and turn it into more of a sports complex for use by everyone, not just rugby and football.”

Warwickian are hoping the link-up will help revitalise the club, which plays in Midlands Five West (South).

They already have tag rugby on a Monday and are trialling a mini rugby section which they are hoping to launch to coincide with the Rugby World Cup in September.

However, with ageing senior teams, they see the partnership with Warwick Juniors as vital to bringing in new blood to the club.

“I’m thrilled. It’s a win-win situation,” said chairman Shaun Clayton. “It is absolutely vital to our long-term sustainability.

“We built the new clubhouse as a community facility.

“In this day and age it’s hard to survive as a one-sport club.

“This will help keep our heads above water.

“The times work out well with the two sports and we’ll encourage Warwick Juniors to own the facility.”

Benefits of the tie-up are already been seen, with major changes being made to the orientation of the pitches along with improvements to the drainage system.

The moves will create enough space for two football pitches which Warwick Juniors will have sole use of and a mini pitch in addition to the rugby club’s two pitches.

 Warwick Juniors are holding trials for their junior teams at their new Hampton Road home on Wednesday (6.30pm to 7.30pm).

For more information, contact Brandrick on 07789 934129.