GENERATIONS of boys and men have been trying their best at a popular rugby club in Helsby.

For the past 50 years, teenagers and teams of men have joined together to charge their way to success on the fields at Helsby Rugby Club.

But now as the club celebrates its 50th anniversary, members are trying to raise cash to help keep the much-loved game alive as the fields and clubhouse continue to fall into disrepair.

The club was formed in 1962 by a group of BICC Cables plant workers and has gone from strength to strength, seeing hundreds of matches played and won on the pitches at Helsby Community Sports Club.

Now the club is trying to raise money while they celebrate years of playing rugby by hosting a star-studded sportsman’s dinner complete with speeches by former international rugby player Mark Regan.

Hundreds of former players will be gathering at the Chester Road club on Saturday to exchange memories from years gone by when they played teams across Ellesmere Port, Chester and Northwich, while being treated to a three-course meal.

Club coaches Terry O’Neill and John Williams said they hoped the evening would see many past and present players join to help support the club within the small community.

“The rugby club pitches are behind Tesco so many people in the village don’t realise they are here,” said Mr O’Neill.

“As Cheshire West and Chester Council have now passed plans for the development of a new clubhouse and a residential estate on the existing site, it must continue to maintain its facilities if it is to survive long term.

“We would like as many past present and past players as possible to attend, so if you are reading this and you used to play for Helsby, why not make a date in your diary and catch up with some old friends?”

The evening will see Mark Regan – who played in the World Cup in 2003, and the 2008 RBS Six Nations campaign – give speeches about his career and comedian Austin Knight entertain punters while they are tucking into their meals.

Tickets cost £40 each or are priced £350 for a table of 10.

For more information, or to buy tickets for the meal, contact Terry O’Neill on 07823 490 121.