FOR well over a century, the York RI (once known as the Railway Institute) has been giving local families the opportunity to play healthy, competitive sport.

Its members have played badminton, squash, golf, bowls, football and rugby, as well as going shooting and sailing.

Today, the club has 3,000 members, a headquarters in Queen Street, a golf club at Pike Hills, sports pitches in Acomb and Holgate, and even two rifle ranges. Now, however, the institute’s president Frank Paterson believes its very existence could be under threat. At the moment, the RI qualifies for £70,000 a year in rates relief because it is registered as a community amateur sports club.

Under new Government rules, however, it could lose that – because it is too big.

Only clubs with an annual turnover of less than £100,000 will continue to qualify for rates relief. The RI’s turnover exceeds that.

But the institute is barely breaking even as it is, Mr Paterson warns. Losing £70,000 a year would be a huge blow. The club is now looking at several options that will enable it to survive.

It could split into several pieces; it could go for charitable status; or it could continue as a sports club, but with a trading company attached.

What is needed is a proper evaluation of all the options. The problem is, the committee is struggling. So now it is calling for other members with knowledge and skills to come forward and help.

We hope the membership heeds that call. We can’t really believe this wonderful club could possibly fail.

But the very possibility must surely be enough to prompt more members to respond to the rallying cry.

The club’s strength has always been its members. We hope they will stand up and be counted in its hour of need.