Chiefs help roll back the years

By Steve Grace
27/9/2016

Exeter Chiefs stars have been rolling back the years, dusting off their old childhood memorabilia and reminiscing about their first grassroots amateur sports clubs in support of this year’s Aviva Community Fund.

Henry Slade, Jack Yeandle and Geoff Parling have shared memories of their earlier years, dug out old images complete with over-sized kits and dodgy haircuts, Slade’s old Ivybridge RFC shirt, and the sacrifices people make at grassroots clubs to help the future generation of rugby stars.

The Aviva Community Fund, a nationwide initiative that lends a helping hand to grassroots sports clubs and community causes, has reopened for a second year to offer funding of between £1,000 and £25,000.

This year, Aviva, the proud title sponsor of Aviva Premiership Rugby, has introduced a ‘Sport in the Community’ category, which means the hundreds of thousands of grassroots sports clubs across the UK can apply or reapply for funding in a sport-specific category this time around. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 11th October.

Slade, who started playing at Ivybridge RFC, said: “It’s really important – the more kids we can encourage to come along and meet new friends and play a sport like rugby is really positive. If Aviva can help out with the funds to buy new kit and that sort of thing, then that’s all the better. I made some great friends, some lifelong friends, so the more kids we can get doing that, the better it is.”

Parling, who started playing at Stockton RFC, said: “I think it’s really important that grassroots rugby gets the funding it needs to continue. The majority of the players here at Exeter Chiefs will have started at their local, grassroot clubs. If it wasn’t for those clubs getting them playing and enjoying the game then they probably wouldn’t have the careers that we do. A lot of the local clubs are led by volunteers and might be struggling for funds, so any help they can get it great.”

Yeandle, who began his rugby journey at Crediton RFC, added: “Crediton Rugby Club helped me a lot to get me where I am today. It was a big learning for me, around what is it to be part of a rugby club – the community and family feel you get from it.”

Pete Markey, Brand & Marketing Communications Director at Aviva UK, said: “The Aviva Community Fund is the perfect way for Aviva to help communities come together and support the grassroots sports clubs and local causes that are central to a strong community. Last year, the Aviva Community Fund helped make a difference to hundreds of projects and causes the length and the breadth of the UK and we look forward to helping even more communities this year.”

To enter your club for a chance to secure funding, visit aviva.co.uk/community-fund or search for ‘Aviva Community Fund’.