THE future of one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country is under threat unless cash can be raised to replace their run down facilities, the chairman has claimed.

Upper Clapton Football Club was founded in 1879 in Clapton, east London, only eight years after the establishment of the Rugby Football Union and was originally home to teams that played with the ball at their feet and teams that played according to the new union rules.

Their clubhouse was built in the 1930s when the club moved to its present home in Upland Road, Thornwood.

But decades later it is in urgent need of repairs and too small to accommodate the club’s 10 teams, and directors have submitted an application to Epping Forest District Council build a new clubhouse with modern facilities as well as an Astroturf pitch and hockey pitch for community use.

To fund the project, they have applied to build eight new houses on their land, which they would sell.

Club chairman Mike Harris said: “The wood of the old clubhouse is rotted and beyond repair, If we do not have a clubhouse we cannot continue operating as a rugby club.

“We have had numerous internationals play for the club, have a great tradition, and allow a number of local schools to use our training facilities.

“All that would go if we can’t get the new facilities built.”

However, residents are concerned that an increase in the number of vehicles to the site from new residents and sports club members could further congest narrow Upland Road.

Dean Roberts, 48, said: On match days you get about 300 cars parked along the road.

“It’s impossible for vehicles to get down. They have made the car park bigger but the new facilities would bring more traffic so I am not sure it would make much difference.”

Mr Harris responded: “We have more than doubled our car parking facilities in the new plans and commissioned a traffic survey to show that it could accommodate added traffic.

“But even if we do have get permission for the land to be developed for houses we will have a four to five hundred thousand pound deficit for funding the facilities.

“We are holding a number of fundraisers and need people to get behind us.”

The public consultation period on the plans closes on May 31.

The club's next fundraiser will be a family fun day, including bouncy castles, inflatable sumo wrestling, a barbecue and bars, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee from noon to 5pm on June 4.

Click here to follow the Epping Forest Guardian on Twitter