Mr Dance, declared his long standing friendship with Abbey going back many years from when he played for Grasshoppers and more lately at Bracknell.

He also praised club member Pete Lucek for all his work in managing the project

Reading East MP Rob Wilson was also on hand to show his support for the club and for the ladies team in particular, who had blazed a trail making it the fastest growing section of the club.

Mr Mellor thanked Sam Robinson, chairman of the mini section, for putting in such hard work organising the Festival and hoped this would be the first pre-season Festival of many.

He beamed: “I am delighted Jon and Rob have opened the new facilities, which are a great addition to our 22 acres of playing fields.

“Rosehill is an attractive place and a great resource for the community.”

The afternoon was not just formality but about reaching out to the local community to encourage them to become involved with the club.

Live music provided a lively back drop to the sideshows and inflatable games, with the bucking bronco test being particularly popular.

The new facilities will be fully in use as Abbey host Thatcham in three friendly games for both sides to wrap up their pre-season programmes.

The 2nds and 3rd start at 1.30pm, with the senior sides kicking off at 3pm.

On Sunday morning at 10am the youth sections start their season, and on Wednesdays at 7.30pm the ladies train, with men’s training held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.15pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club can contact Russell Bolton on 07711 385 919, or by searching for Abbey RFC on the internet or Facebook.

Redingensians Rams

THE RAMS were left to rue spending 20 minutes of their final pre-season game against Barnes with players in the sin bin as two late tries consigned them to a 28-14 defeat.

Due to ongoing work on Redingensians clubhouse, the side opens its National Three South West Division campaign against Barnstaple at Maidenhead RFC this Saturday (3pm ko).

Reading RFC

NEWLY-PROMOTED Leighton Buzzard are the visitors when Reading start their South West One East season at Holme Park this Saturday (3pm ko).

Reading will include a number of new players including prop Guido Suez, flanker Gerald Hegarty, former High Wycombe scrum half Luke Harding and wing Matt Storey.

Centres Martin Shaw and Gavin Parke are included in the squad with ex-Brixham man Alex Murray-Smith.