ON Saturday afternoon the stage was all set at College Way for Bridgwater and Albion to play their scheduled home fixture against Clevedon in the Western Counties (North), kicking off at 2.30pm.

The Bridgy Boys had all turned up and were looking to record a double over a team that they beat away from home earlier in the season in what were atrocious conditions, the pitch was marked out and referee had arrived looked at the pitch and was happy to officiate the match. 

The only problem was that when the opposition arrived they decided that the pitch was too dangerous to play on, and duly departed without getting changed, much to the disappointment of the players, officials and the supporters who were all looking forward to an enjoyable game of rugby on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Taylor Buller, the Albion team captain had been keen to play the game, but not so his Clevedon opposite number so the game did not go ahead.

The Bridgy team captain said: “We think that the game is playable and the referee is happy to manage the game on the pitch but Clevedon have decided that they are not happy and have left so we are very disappointed because we are here to play rugby."

Somerset RFU referee Lucy Smith who was making her third visit to officiate at the Albion this season said: “The Clevedon director of rugby has disputed the pitch and ultimately it was left to the captains to decide. The Bridgwater captain agreed to play but the Clevedon spoke to their players and  have declined to play today, so unfortunately the game has not gone ahead."

Earlier this week there was good news for Bridgwater and Albion who have been awarded a grant by the Valencia Communities Fund to provide new floodlights for their training pitch.

The substantial grant has enabled Bridgwater & Albion RFC to install state-of-the-art floodlights on its training pitch, significantly enhancing the playing experience for both players and spectators alike. This transformative upgrade not only improves visibility during evening but also opens up opportunities for increased community engagement and extended training hours.

The Bridgwater Director of Rugby, Geoff Sluman said: ”We are immensely grateful to Valencia Communities Fund for its support. This grant not only illuminates our playing field but also symbolises the bright future we envisage  for our club. The new floodlights will be the very latest technology being very environmentally considerate and much more energy efficient than the existing 30-year-old system, this will help to control the running costs for the club.” 

Geoff said that in addition to his appreciation to the Valencia Communities Fund he would like to add his thanks to a couple of volunteers from the club who have contributed by working on the project - Christine Clapham and Sophie Phillips have both been instrumental in the project.

Gareth Williams, Operations Manager at Valencia Communities Fund, said: “We were impressed with both the enhanced community opportunities that the lights will bring as well as the reduction in environmental impact the lights will achieve. We look forward to seeing the lights installed and in use very soon.”

Valencia Communities Fund has a longstanding commitment to supporting local communities and sustainable initiatives. This grant is a testament to their dedication to fostering positive change and enabling organizations like Bridgwater & Albion RFC to thrive. 

Geoff added: "We look forward to a continued partnership with Valencia Communities Fund as we work together to strengthen the bonds within our community. We will provide further updates on the project, that has now started, and we hope to be completed by early April 2024.”