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Diss RFC chairman confident future of the club is 'safe'




There will undoubtedly be tough times ahead, but chairman Andy Jermy is confident Diss Rugby Club will be able to come out the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.

Last Friday, the Rugby Football Union announced the end of the 2019/20 season for ‘all league, cup and county rugby’ with immediate effect as local sport continues to be hit by the disease.

It means that Diss’ Mackenders base has effectively been shut down, with the club losing out on matchday revenue and in particular the pre-match lunches, which are its main source of income.

29/02/2020. Roydon, UK. ..Rugby match between Diss and Stowmarket cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. ..Photo by Mark Bullimore. (32284312)
29/02/2020. Roydon, UK. ..Rugby match between Diss and Stowmarket cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch. ..Photo by Mark Bullimore. (32284312)

Cutbacks have already been made, but Jermy believes that the club is in a ‘safe’ position.

“All of the events we had planned – including pre-match lunches – have obviously been cancelled or postponed,” he said.

“Those pre-match meals are our main source of income, but we have already cut all forms of spending where we can to keep the club safe until revenue picks up again.

11/01/2020. Roydon, UK. ..Rugby action from Diss v Epping Upper Clapton. Jake Girdler..Photo by Mark Bullimore. (32284335)
11/01/2020. Roydon, UK. ..Rugby action from Diss v Epping Upper Clapton. Jake Girdler..Photo by Mark Bullimore. (32284335)

“It is a very worrying time and like every other club – we are all in the same boat after all – we have to be cautious.

“It looks like the earliest rugby will be back is September, and hopefully we are able to start our pre-season stuff in July or August.”

Jermy is also well aware that the club will have a big role to play in the community once a sense of normality is restored.

He added: “It is that lack of sport to watch and the social element that people will be really missing at the moment.

“Mental health is so important, both for our players but also the supporters.

“Our pre-match meals, the chats in the bar between players and fans – that is what makes a club.

“We will be there once all this has gone and hopefully things will pick up very quickly and we get back to watching some good rugby.”

As it stands, Diss’ first team are sixth in the London 2 North East standings, but they have played less games than any other side in the division.

They are just one point behind fifth-placed Stowmarket, who have played one more match.



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