Pooler Moving Forward

I have had time to reflect on last Tuesday’s meeting where Pontypool RFC CEO Ben Jeffreys spoke eloquently and passionately about the problems facing the club. He explained that the antisocial behaviour of certain people was putting players’ safety at risk and making the volunteers’ task in preparing the ground thoroughly unpleasant as well as frequently undoing the ground development work. It was clear that security at the ground needed to be beefed up but that the intransigence of Torfaen Council was preventing this from happening. An impasse has been reached and, as a consequence, the time was right for Pontypool RFC to find another home.

This is a highly emotive subject of course. I think most people would like the club to remain in the glorious surroundings of Pontypool Park with its rich history but equally there is a stark recognition that things cannot go on like they are. The club needs to be free to tackle its problems in its own way and continue to plan and prepare for the future. This will always be difficult at Pontypool Park where local government holds sway. It does sound an awful lot like Brexit doesn’t it? Let us hope we can manage it better!

Having thought long and hard about it, I am fully supportive of the plan to move away from Pontypool Park. There are plenty of positives that is for sure which in the cold light of day outweigh my emotional attachment to the Bank that goes back fifty years or more.  If Pooler move and end up with a purpose built ground with 3G pitch and a club house it would be a tremendous step forward. Imagine being able to have a beer in a room where all that Pontypool memorabilia was on display. It would also be a fantastic asset that could be shared with the local community.

If is a small word with big significance however. To move requires the selection and procurement of a suitable location and of course significant funding. Ben Jeffreys admitted that a site has not yet been found although they have been looking for some time. This will surely mean that a move is quite a long way in the future - at least a couple of years I guess. In the meantime, there is some important rugby to be played on Pontypool Park with Pooler having the major challenge of pushing to regain Premiership status. Let us hope a way can be found to work constructively with Torfaen Council and the police to tackle some of the current issues with antisocial behaviour and keep everyone safe.

Well done Ben for having the courage of your convictions! I am with you, Peter and Pontypool RFC all the way. I will continue to watch Pooler wherever they play – even in Newport!