CINDEFORD Rugby Club’s £1.35 million ground redevelopment is moving swiftly, with a series of major upgrades at the Beavis Memorial Ground now visibly taking shape.

The transformation project, first announced earlier this year, promises to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that will benefit not only the club’s senior and junior sides, but also the wider Forest of Dean community.

The latest update from the site reveals that the groundwork is well advanced, with a number of key installations already in place.

The base layer for the new all-weather 3G pitch has now been laid, and the new floodlighting system is fully installed and operational.

Handrails have been erected around the pitch perimeter, and teams are currently applying tarmac along the pitchside walkways.

The stand is also undergoing a full upgrade, while work is progressing on refurbishing the two cabin buildings beside the pitch.

Additionally, new team dugouts are being installed, with foundations now in place for two team shelters and a third for the matchday fourth official.

The landmark project is being funded in full by local businessman and long-time club president Peter Bell, CEO of K W Bell Group.

The Bell family has a deep-rooted connection with the club, and their donation marks one of the most significant private investments into grassroots sport in the area.

Speaking at the time of the announcement, Mr Bell said the redevelopment would secure the club’s future for generations to come: “I’ve travelled to countless games and seen pitches in all sorts of conditions, some fantastic, others barely playable, this 3G pitch is about ensuring that Cinderford Rugby Club has the best possible platform to thrive.”

The pitch, when completed, will be built to World Rugby’s Regulation 22 standard. It will feature a high-performance carbon-neutral synthetic surface, designed to reduce environmental impact while offering advanced shock-absorption and drainage for improved player safety.