HIGHFIELD Working Men's Club celebrates its centenary next year. With a bit of luck.
It's only a couple of weeks ago that I was writing about local pubs and clubs struggling to make ends meet but I never thought that the Highfield could possibly be in trouble - till I got a couple of phone calls.
I called round to catch up with president Bob Wood and new secretary Alan Hawthornthwaite.
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It's bad. But the new committee of stalwarts is determined to fight through to the centenary - and beyond.
Highfield WMC opened its doors in a large detached house on Ratcliffe Street in 1908.
By the mid 60s, a new flat-roofed club had been built on the site and very impressive it was with a superb games room and probably the biggest concert room in town.
I vaguely remember going to the opening and coming round a couple of days later.
The Highfield was in its heyday with a membership of more than 500, good snooker and darts teams and a concert room which was always in full swing.
Sadly, since then it's been a steady downhill curve which has accelerated in the past few years.
Membership is not much over 150 and the magic of a thriving club - the laughter and the banter, the wind-ups and the booze-ups - is missing.
In a word, I suppose what's really missing is people.
When I called in late one night there were barely a dozen customers.
It was the same the night before and it would probably be the same the night after. And it's a big club.
There's a faint air of neglect about the place; chipped paintwork and dated wallpaper.
One of the snooker tables badly needs recovering, not that many play the game these days.
Financially, the situation is desperate but Bob says John Smith's have been very supportive and now, with the new committee and a new steward, Keith Bradley, in place, he and Alan are confident that things can be turned round.
Weekend concerts are not the draws they used to be but private functions - birthday parties, retirements, presentations, anniversaries - are very popular and are keeping the Highfield afloat.
Alan, a painter and decorator, has been painting the club for free with the help of some of the regulars and others have organised what promises to be an interesting race night for next Friday evening.
Says Bob: "Every club I know is struggling. The youngsters just don't come in these days and the old uns aren't keen to venture out late at night.
"A lot of folk buy cheap booze and drink at home and all-day drinking hasn't helped either.
"The demolition of scores of houses for the new academy just over the railway lines hit us hard. It's been one thing after another."
Alan adds: "It's a struggle, but we are determined to reach our centenary and to progress from there.
"But we need more support from the local community."
Friday's race night will be a pointer to whether those hopes are likely to be realised.
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