Committee members of a popular sports club in Saundersfoot are urging members of the community to get ‘on board’ to help save the facility, which is under threat.

An extraordinary general meeting has now been called to discuss the concerns of committee members at Saundersfoot Sports and Social Club, and primarily to highlight the severity of the situation in the hope that the local community will rally round and support the club.

Current club secretary, Dave ‘Dickie’ Parcell, explained that due to social trends changing significantly in recent years, with gaming, social media and extreme fitness events becoming more popular, “less and less people” seem to be participating in traditional club events and accordingly fewer people are frequenting the club socially.

“Saundersfoot Sports and Social Club has taken great pride in the last 30-plus years of being the hub of all sporting activity in the village, with football and cricket being the two main supporters and beneficiaries during this period,” he said.

“Many successes have been achieved by both sports, and the youth of the village over the years have benefited enormously through coaching and participation at the club and playing fields.

“Numerous other local sporting organisations have supported the club over this period - bowls, swimming, tennis, ladies cricket and football, to name but a few, and for the less energetic of us, snooker, pool, darts and bingo have all contributed to making the club the resounding success it has been, but in recent years social trends have changed significantly,” he continued.

Due to all of this, Mr. Parcell stated that the club has now come to a ‘crossroads’ and it has been proposed that an EGM be arranged for Monday, November 7, at 7 pm.

“Recently, the club has struggled to form a working committee, with fewer members willing to stand, therefore it has been falling on the same few people to do everything,” explained Mr. Parcell.

“As a result, myself and the treasurer have decided to stand down after many years of service. It is imperative that these positions are filled. We appreciate that not everyone wants to serve on a committee, but we would accept any offers of help from volunteers to assist the committee and staff in the running of the club.

“Lots of you have many skills and other assets which would be invaluable to the future success of the club,” he said.

Over a period of time, the changing rooms on the field have been constantly vandalised, to the extent that there is so much wire mesh and boards surrounding them, committee members have stated that the facility resembles a ‘derelict unit in an inner city slum’.

“To maintain the changing rooms is proving to be very expensive and very frustrating due to the continuing vandalism, so anyone who can bring a solution with their input could really help with this problem, and would be very much appreciated,” continued Mr. Parcell.

“The club will need to determine a way forward for the quiet winter months - do we try to continue seven days a week or do we become more selective in our opening hours like other licensed premises in the village or other clubs in the area.

“If any of the above sad reading encourages you to try and keep the cub open, please attend the EGM next month, and you could even just call in for a pint on a weekend, as this is the support we really need.

“Remember, the people who will lose out are the youth of the village, and we will not realise what we have lost until it is gone!” he added.