THE latest stage of York Acorn ARLC’s increasingly ambitious ground development plans has been completed – and named in honour of former favourite Rob Lee.

The ever-expanding club – who will run teams next year at every age group from under-7s to U18s, along with their two open-age sides – have begun looking into the feasibility of building a new covered stand with seating or terracing as well as an indoor training facility incorporating a balcony overlooking the first-team pitch.

Next up, though, as reported by The Press, is the creation of junior pitches plus the resurfacing of training areas in the spring, for which a £50,000 Sport England grant, plus £15,000 from City of York Council, has already been forthcoming. This will hopefully be followed by the installation of floodlights over the new junior pitch and senior pitch, for which £30,000 must be raised.

The latest completed addition to the Thanet Road complex, meanwhile, is a fully-equipped gym, for which a plaque bearing Lee’s name has now been unveiled by his widow, Julie, and son, Adam.

Lee, who came through the ranks at Acorn, signed forms with Hull’s academy and played professionally with York Wasps, aside from starring for the Blue and Golds first team. He died in 2003, aged 24, in a motorbike accident while Julie was pregnant with Adam.

His friend, Gary Endersby, now coach of Acorn’s ‘A’ team, said it was fitting the facility was called the Rob Lee Memorial Gym.

“Rob was always very dedicated,” said Endersby. “Even when he signed for Hull he never lost his roots and always came back and saw the lads.

“He showed that if you put the work in you can go places and you’re going to get rewards.

“It’s a good facility and we’re getting new equipment all the time, and we’re all really proud it’s been named after him.”

Acorn’s open age teams, meanwhile, have held their first get-together of pre-season ahead of their bid to bounce back up to amateur rugby league’s elite tier, the National Conference League premier division.

New and old players are welcome, as are title sponsors following the end of the club’s agreement with Jewson builders merchant. Anyone wanting further information can phone Alan Havercroft on 07429 759511.