Keighley grant is light fantastic! (From Keighley News)

Keighley grant is light fantastic!

12:12am Friday 20th July 2012 in Sport

Keighley Rugby Union Club have received a grant of more than £43,000 for new floodlights.

The boost comes from Olympic legacy funding through Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund.

Rose Cottage – Keighley’s base since 1986 – currently has floodlights but chairman Sam Griffin said they needed replacing.

It will see the installation of taller posts with more efficient lighting, providing better conditions for seniors and juniors to train under.

Keighley will receive £43,440 of National Lottery funding to make the upgrade.

Griffin said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured this generous investment, which means we can upgrade the quality of our premises to match the quality of our teams and coaches. “It is the cornerstone of our strategy to have an outstanding club for the 2012 Olympics’ legacy.”

The Inspired Facilities Fund is part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games.

Sport England chairman Richard Lewis said: “This National Lottery investment will create a lasting sporting legacy for the Keighley area.

“This fund has really hit the mark with sports clubs in the Yorkshire region. It shows we’re offering the legacy that people want for their local community. “For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2012 will be the year their local sports facilities get better.”

Baildon are among the clubs to have received a similar award.

Sport England launched a further £10million funding round on Tuesday to help local community sports groups to upgrade their facilities. You can find out more at www.sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities. Bids will be accepted from July 23.

Meanwhile, Keighley’s pre-season training is well under way as the club prepare for life in North One East following promotion from Yorkshire One.

Their first league match is at home to Durham City on September 1.