Pennant Walters backs Gilfach Goch RFC with £5,500 donation

Gilfach Goch RFC has received a welcome boost from local renewable energy company, Pennant Walters, which has once again provided funding to support both its senior and junior sections.

The £5,500 donation, which comes from a community fund linked to Pennant Walters’ windfarms in the Gilfach Goch and Blackmill areas, has been used to help the Club cover essential costs for the 2024/25 season.

The senior section has used the sponsorship to provide new shorts and socks for players, as well as helping towards the payment of Bridgend Council bills for the use of the training field and indoor facilities during the winter months.

Meanwhile, the junior section has used its share of the funding to secure indoor training facilities throughout the autumn and winter – helping young players continue to train and enjoy rugby even in poor weather conditions.

This is not the first time Pennant Walters has supported the club, and its ongoing commitment helps ensure both senior and junior players can continue to enjoy and develop rugby in the local area.

Darren Hughes, Chairman of Gilfach Goch RFC, said:

“We’re so grateful for the continued support of Pennant Walters. Running a club like ours takes a lot of effort and funding, and this £5,500 support helps us cover essential costs that make a real difference — from kitting out our senior players to ensuring our juniors can keep training through the winter months. It means a lot to have this backing from a local company that’s invested in our community.”

Dale Hart, Managing Director of Pennant Walters, said:

“Our wind energy community funds exist to make a difference in the local communities where we work, and we’re delighted to support Gilfach Goch RFC once again.

“Grassroots clubs like this are at the heart of their communities, giving people of all ages the chance to stay active, make friends, and be part of something special. We’re proud to help keep that going.”

The sponsorship comes from funds linked to Pennant Walters’ Pant y Wal and Fforch Nest wind farms — located in the Gilfach Goch, Blackmill, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf areas. Together, the two sites comprise 21 turbines producing 53 megawatts of clean electricity — enough to power the equivalent of 25,000 homes.