A POPULAR rugby club has been backed by council bosses in its search for a permanent social home.

Burnham Rugby Club has been without a permanent base for the last six years after the day-to-day running of the Dengie Hundred Sports Centre transferred from Maldon District Council.

At a meeting of Burnham Town Council last week, club president Niall Hornett spoke on the club’s aims for the future, which include brokering a new arrangement to use the centre on a permanent basis.

A meeting between the club and Maldon District Council, which still owns the leisure centre, has already taken place to discuss the proposal. Burnham Town Council has weighed in behind the club.

During the council meeting, Mr Hornett said: “It is an inclusive club, as much a playing club as a social club. We see ourselves as an anchor for the community.

“We’re not looking to be the next Saracens, it’s about giving back to the community.”

Mr Hornett said one of the main issues is not being able to secure the sport centre’s social area on an exclusive basis after home games.

He added the cost of keeping the bar open after the leisure centre closes - which the club would have to foot itself - is “prohibitively expensive”.

The club president added: “We’re not rolling in money, we have to watch our pennies and pounds.

“I think we are the only club now in Essex that does not have their own social area. This has been an ongoing challenge.

“We have 50 years’ worth of memorabilia. It is about having an identity.”

“Without that home, it doesn’t encourage people to feel part of the club.”

“We hope that we will be able to get to a point where all parties can agree a proposal to move forward.”

Councillor Ron Pratt asked members to fully support the club which was met with a positive response from the town council.

Other plans for the future included more engagement with schools and recruiting more volunteers.