Slingsby Sports Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary this week. 

In May 1988 the building of the club had been completed and a drinks licence obtained, then it was a race against time to complete the internal fittings and decoration to enable the club to open for business prior to the Bank Holiday weekend. Income was urgently needed as almost all the Sportsfield Association’s money had been put into the building costs to supplement the grants given by Ryedale District Council and the Sports Council.

The opening on 25th May 1988 was the culmination of some 10 years of fundraising by the committee and villagers.  Income from the bar enabled the original small bar seating area to be enlarged with the building of the wider lounge area and the referee’s changing room at the rear in 1990.

The price of a pint of beer in 1988 was 76 pence and lager 87 pence.  A quarter of a century on and the price is still only £2 a pint. The sportsfield is rented from Castle Howard at no cost to the village and the four sports clubs using the field are not charged rental. Income from the bar alone would not make this possible.

It has only been achievable as a result of all tasks relating to the sportsfield being done on a voluntary basis.  Bar work, cleaning, grass cutting, maintenance, purchase and renewal of equipment have throughout been carried out by volunteers and this continues to be the case.

The Committee really does appreciate all the work carried out by everyone involved over the last 25 years and looks forward to villagers’ continuing support.