Rugby club renames ground in honour of city legend...

[dutchman]

Nick Newbold was a former director of Coventry Rugby Club and died from bowel cancer aged 62



A rugby sports ground in Coventry has been renamed in honour of a man who had a significant influence on the club and his home city.

Nearly a year after director Nick Newbold died aged 62, Coventry Rugby Club's Butts Park Arena was renamed ahead of its home game against Hartpury on Friday, which they won 31-19. The official ceremony will take place on 21 March.

It will now be known as the Nick Newbold Stadium, where he worked for 17 years. He was also chair of trustees at Sky Blues in the Community, the charity of Coventry City FC, and helped many other groups.

Rugby club executive chairman, Jon Sharp, said renaming the ground was a fitting tribute to the "lifelong supporter".

Mr Sharp said Mr Newbold loved the city of Coventry and did much for the community. He was also a member of Acorns Coventry fundraising group in aid of Acorn Children's Hospice and other community sports teams.

"He dedicated himself very much to what was going on and those poor kids in the Hospice," he said.

"I knew Nick from when he just finished school and I was vice chair of the Old Wheatleyans Rugby Club, and Nick came along to play. He was always up to mischief and no good but always had a smile on his face. He was such a loved character."

An entire day of events is planned to mark the renaming ceremony on the 21 March at the ground when the team plays Doncaster Knights in the Champ Rugby division. There will be a blue plaque, and former England players are expected to attend, along with the possibility of celebrities who he knew through his charity work.

[dutchman]

Personally I think it will just confuse people?

[dutchman]

Rugby club's stadium renamed after late director



Coventry Rugby Club has officially renamed its stadium in memory of one of its directors, who died unexpectedly almost a year ago.

Nick Newbold had been at the club for 17 years, and also worked with Coventry City Football Club and the Acorn Children's Hospice.

A minute's applause was held in front of his family and friends at the stadium, on a day of events to remember him, ahead of Coventry's match against Doncaster, which they won 44-24.

Newbold's widow Siobhan said: "I can't explain how lovely it is to see family and friends all together here to celebrate the life of Nick."

She added: "He's be looking down on us now - I know he's got the sun out for us - but he'd be going 'what is going on?'

"He'd never thought his name would be in lights."

His son Alex said his father helped many people people but did not like to be in the limelight.

"He did so much for so many people, but he always liked to do it from a back foot, behind the scenes," he said.

"He'd be very embarrassed but it's just such a great tribute and it's just going to be nice for me for whenever I pass by and see his name.

"It's just like a constant reminder of all the great things he did for the city."

[dutchman]

"He'd never thought his name would be in lights."

Having seen it lit up at night I wasn't impressed.
It's just the name lit up, nothing else, which looks very odd.