Bathgate Celebrates Caldy RFC Promotion to Championship
 

Bathgate Business Finance and the wider Bathgate Group last month celebrated Caldy RFC’s historic promotion to the RFU Championship – the second tier of English Rugby.

Bathgate Group has sponsored the Wirral-based team for more than a decade. Its company owner and chairman, Rod Walker is an ex-player and Past President and Bathgate Business Finance Managing Director, Gordon Andrews, also played for the club, for the 1st XV in the 80s and 90s and laterly the infamous Dream Team until 2008.

As well as being one of the clubs main sponsors, Bathgate Business Finance has also supported the team as a client in the past to secure finance for kitchen equipment in the clubhouse and continues to offer financial support and advice

Caldy secured promotion to the Championship on Saturday 23rd April after a tough match on home turf against Sale RFC, with the victory seeing them win National League 1.

The club, who play at Paton Field, have been described as “‘a little club with a wooden shack for a clubhouse and an open field for a ground” were one of the smallest teams in National 1, making their 2021/22 season victory even more astonishing.

Speaking of the promotion and Bathgate Group’s long history of supporting the club, Gordon Andrews said: “As a past player and club sponsor, it is an honour for myself and Bathgate to share in the success that Caldy RFC have had, not only this season, but for all of our period of support for them. 

“The steady climb up the North West and then National Leagues has been fantastic to be part of and it is great to see the hard work of all the volunteer members, supporters, players and coaches, as well as the sponsors, coming to fruition. 

“We have some famous clubs and grounds to visit in The Championship and everyone associated with the club is looking forward to celebrating what will be an historic next rugby season.”

Image credit: Steve Flynn Photography