Tameside rugby club celebrates 90th anniversary with £16k clubhouse transformation

Aldwinians Rugby Club in Audenshaw has transformed its clubhouse facilities after securing £16,641 through Tameside Council’s Pride in Place Impact Fund.

The Pride in Place funding programme is designed to deliver visible, lasting improvements to local community spaces and help strengthen pride in neighbourhoods across Tameside.

Aldwinians was successful in the third and final round of funding, using the money to make significant improvements to its clubhouse and create a more accessible and versatile facility for members and the wider Audenshaw community.

The project has seen the transformation of several key areas, including:

• A completely transformed entrance foyer, creating a more welcoming first impression for players, families, visitors and community groups
• Improvements to the accessible toilet facilities, helping ensure the clubhouse is inclusive and accessible to everyone
• A major upgrade to the main function room, creating a modern and flexible space for community events, meetings, celebrations and other functions
• Improvements to lighting and audio-visual facilities, making the function room more suitable for a much wider range of community activities and events

The investment also supports the club’s wider ambition to make Aldwinians a genuine community hub rather than simply a venue for rugby. The clubhouse provides a space where local people can meet, socialise, attend events and participate in activities, creating opportunities for community groups, families, local organisations and residents to make use of the space.

The project has been funded through the Government's Pride in Place programme and awarded by Tameside Council. The Pride in Place Impact Fund is a 100% capital programme providing £1.5m across 2025/26 and 2026/27, to deliver visible improvements that rebuild community pride by March 2027.

The funding award is particularly meaningful as 2026 marks Aldwinians Rugby Club's 90th year. It continues to provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities and looks forward to an exciting future with its improved facilities.

Aldwinians’ President Colin Gidman said: “As we celebrate our 90th year, we are incredibly grateful to Tameside Council for recognising the role Aldwinians plays within the community and for supporting us through the Pride in Place funding.

“This investment has enabled us to make improvements that will benefit our club and the wider community for many years to come.

“We would also like to thank local ward councillor Teresa Smith for her support and for recognising the importance of Aldwinians to the Audenshaw community and beyond. We are proud of our history, but we are equally focused on our future, and this investment helps us ensure that the club remains a welcoming and valuable community facility for the next generation.”

Tameside Council Executive Leader, Councillor Eleanor Wills said: “It’s fantastic to see how Pride in Place funding is helping local organisations like Aldwinians Rugby Club invest in facilities that will benefit the whole community.

“The Pride in Place programme is all about creating places that local people can be proud of, with the improvements at Aldwinians demonstrating how investment in an established grassroots organisation can deliver a lasting community benefit.”

Aldwinians Rugby Club is one of 24 projects to benefit from the final round of Pride in Place funding.