Sale Sharks will be taking over Spinningfields’ sports bar, The Club House, for a month long residency throughout August.
The Sale Sharks Club House will be transformed into the team’s very own headquarters, adorned with team memorabilia. The takeover will provide rugby fans and those that live, work and play in Spinningfields with four weeks of pre-season activities and the chance to get to know the players on and off the pitch.
Sale Sharks’ first team kicked things off today with ‘Scrum in the City’, a high-octane scrum practice right in the heart of Spinningfields on The Lawn in Hardman Square. Visitors had the chance to meet the team and watch Sale Sharks’ Director of Rugby Steve Diamond push a pack of forwards to their limit, with England and club legend Mark Cueto MBE on the mic. The business community also got involved, as members of JMW Solicitors squared-up to the pros in ‘Suits vs. Sharks’.
After the team’s private pre-season lunch at Fazenda on Thursday 25th August, The Sale Sharks Club House will host a social from 5–6pm, where players and staff will celebrate the imminent start of the new season. From 7pm, Cork and Bull in Old Granada Studios will provide dartboards, pool tables and table tennis for the after party, which will see players take on staff, business partners, fans and the general public.
The Club House popped up in Spinningfields in April to provide a hub for Spinningfields’ Summer of Sport. It’s the perfect place to enjoy live sporting events, including The Olympics, as well as food and drink, while relaxing in the outdoor seating area.
Sharks fans are also invited along to two pre-season friendly matches at the Heywood Road ground on Saturday 13th and Friday 19th August, where season ticket holders will be granted free entry.
The squad are currently in intense pre-season training ahead of their first premiership match against Newcastle on Saturday 3rd September, followed by their first home fixture against Harlequins on Friday 9th September.
Luisa d’Aprano, Head of Marketing at Spinningfields, said: “We’re extremely excited to welcome Sale Sharks to Spinningfields, providing the perfect finale to the estate’s Summer of Sport programme. Their takeover will give fans the opportunity to come and meet the team and encourage support for their upcoming season, for which we’re wishing them all the best.”
Steve Diamond, Director of Rugby at Sale Sharks, added: “We have a great relationship with Spinningfields and the team are always keen to get out and meet their supporters. This residency will give us the perfect opportunity to engage with fans in the city centre; inspiring budding young players to get involved and creating new supporters ahead of the 2016/17 season.”
Follow @Spinningfields on Twitter for daily updates on Sale Sharks and @TheClubHouseMCR for the schedule of sporting events being shown.