As a former Tynedale Rugby & Corbridge United football coach, I’m passionate about local sport and have supported cricket, football, rugby & tennis with the councillors grants scheme.

Cricket – I have helped Corbridge Cricket Club with funding towards the electronic scoreboard in memory of former player, coach and club supporter Peter Walsh whose family, friends and legal colleagues from Trinity Chambers have donated towards the cost. This will allow spectators to keep up to date with play and will update in real time from an app on an iPad used by the scorers and can be seen from all parts of the ground. I played football with Peter Walsh. He was an inspirational man and gave a lot to our community including coaching my son at football so it’s great to be able to support this project at our fantastic cricket club.

I’m also supporting works at the Cricket Club to install new environmental measures including installation of a new electric boiler powered by the solar panels on the clubhouse roof.

Football – I have also helped with funding for Corbridge United Football Club towards installation of two Portacabins at Tynedale Park for changing and to provide refreshments to players and supporters. I’m particularly please to be able to support this project because as a former coach at Corbridge Utd I know only too well how needed these new facilities are. There are further details in the Club newsletter here.

Rugby –  Activity at Tynedale Rugby Club this past year has been dramatically affected by the Covid pandemic but ahead of a expected gradual return to normal activity for next season the club is refurbishing and reconfiguring its changing rooms. Tynedale have experienced significant growth in recent years and are probably the largest club in the area in terms of participation and so these improvements cannot come soon enough. In particular the number of women and girls playing rugby at the Corbridge Club has risen rapidly.

I have made a contribution to the cost of these essential improvements. I coached youth rugby for 20 years at Tynedale, all five of my children have played there and it has been a significant part of my life. I was previously Chair of Youth rugby and lead coach in the Panthers girls section so Tynedale has a special place in my heart and it’s great to be able to make a contribution to this project. We’re all looking forward to seeing significant rugby activity returning. The club is an extraordinary success and is always looking to push forward and offer better facilities to the hundred’s of men, women, boys and girls who play there.

Management Committee member John Austin said “We’re using the lull in normal training and playing activity brought about by Covid restrictions to get these improvements made and we’re grateful for Nick’s support”.

Tennis – I have supported Corbridge Tennis Club with their new pavilion which is proceeding at pace and will be open soon. Hopefully they will have an uninterrupted season of tennis this year and they are always looking for new members. https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ctc/Membership/Join
They have an extensive programme of coaching planned also. Read more about the development here in the Hexham Courant.

Skatepark – I’m now working on improving our skatepark. The skatepark has had to close this year because Northumbria Water have used their statutory powers to requisition the skate park to enable their upgrade of the sewage pumping station just along the flood barrier. We’re working with the Corbridge Youth Initiative and local members of the community to design the new facilities so that we can begin getting quotes and fundraising.

I’m optimistic that we will be able to secure a major upgrade of our skatepark facilities.