Rugby club renames ground in honour of city legend

A rugby sports ground in Coventry is to be renamed in honour of a man who had a significant influence on the club and his home city.

Nearly a year after director Nick Newbold died aged 62, Coventry Rugby Club's Butts Park Arena will be renamed ahead of its home game against Doncaster Knights, in an official ceremony taking place on 21 March.

It will be known as the Nick Newbold Stadium, where he worked for 17 years. He was also chair of trustees at Sky Blues in the Community, the charity of Coventry City FC, and helped many other groups.

Rugby club executive chairman Jon Sharp said renaming the ground was a fitting tribute to the "lifelong supporter".

Sharp said Newbold loved the city of Coventry and did much for the community. He was also a member of Acorns Coventry fundraising group in aid of Acorn Children's Hospice and other community sports teams.

"He dedicated himself very much to what was going on and those poor kids in the Hospice," he said.

"I knew Nick from when he just finished school and I was vice chair of the Old Wheatleyans Rugby Club, and Nick came along to play. He was always up to mischief and no good but always had a smile on his face. He was such a loved character."

An entire day of events is planned to mark the renaming ceremony on the 21 March at the ground when the team plays Doncaster Knights in the Champ Rugby division. There will be a blue plaque, and former England players are expected to attend, along with the possibility of celebrities who he knew through his charity work.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said that the stadium had already been renamed, the story has been updated to reflect that it will be renamed on 21 March.

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