At the end of a three-year project, Emanuel Rugby Club at last turned on their floodlights, which cost more than £40,000.

Director of rugby Fergus McCarthy made the first enquiries about new lights with RFU RDO Jo Martin several years ago, and was put in touch with Rick Bruin, Funding and Facilities Manager at RFU, who guided the club through the process of funding and acquisition of the lights.

The old training lights were not at a good standard and the plan is to play matches in the evenings and at training.

The club was already working towards their Seal of Approval and also Whole Club Development Plan, and were accredited SoA (A higher level of Sport England Chartermark) just weeks after the lights went up.

Club Treasurer Richard Hodge, and Hon Sec, Ian Blair, worked diligently on the project getting the finances in place and gaining the backing of the Old Emanuel Association, and United Westminster Schools Trust the landlord of the ground Blagdons, by the A3 at Shannon Corner between Wimbledon and New Malden.

Ian Harvey took over leadership on Seal of Approval, and with help and advice from Jo Martin, Rick Bruin and John Vale who became President of Surrey RFU in that time, the money was raised, including RFU funding of £33,230 in the form of a loan of £27,230 and a grant from the Rugby Football Foundation of £6,000 and all the permissions gained.

The club had to raise partnership funding and are thankful for the long (25 years0 and continued support from Keith Knowles and Belushis/St Christophers Inns in sponsoring the club and some of this generous funding has been SportsMatched over the years.

Highlights Floodlighting really got on with it and worked with the groundsman and electricians upgrading the clubhouse to disrupt as little as possible.

There are six masts around the pitch 15 meters tall. Two come down to allow the cricket season, and they are stored upright on dummy stands out of the way.

The lights were first designated as “Training Lights” but that designation changed slightly to “Full Pitch Lights” and have lux (light levels) ranging from about 120 in the corners to 205 in the centres.

They were far better than expected being clear white light rather than the older technology yellow lights, and quite frankly the club has played under poorer lighting conditions during the day.

There are eight 2kw lamps, and the masts and wiring around the pitch allow an upgrade in the future to 18 lamps, but Old Emanuel is not hosting the Rugby World Cup (yet!).

A ceremony took place at the Old Emanuel’s Annual Rugby Dinner, and with fireworks and the presence of Dean Richards ex England, British & Irish Lions and the world’s most capped number 8, now Director of Rugby at Harlequins, the lights were officially switched on.

There was a huge “Wow Factor!” As people saw their quality, and off course a ball appeared and impromptu game immediately took place, despite nobody having any kit.

Just a week later Penny McCarthy, Chairman of Old Emanuel Rugby Club, surprised Ian Harvey, Chairman of Old Emanuel Minis and Youth section (known as “Emanuel Lions”) by presenting him with the framed certificate of Seal of Approval, at Emanuel Lions end of season BBQ and Awards Day.

The club celebrates its Centenary in 2009-2010 and has further plans for growth, but the floodlights illuminate a great club starting its second century.

The club thanks all the people mentioned above, and many more, for the success of this project.

Anybody interested in joining the club as a player from 5 years up at Emanuel Lions or as adults teams from 17 years to 70, or just socially, please contact fergus@emanuelrugby.co.uk 020 8337 8778