SOCIAL MOVEMENT
From failing to thriving: Sinfin Running Club’s revival is a true comeback story
HOW DO YOU REVERSE the fortunes of a running club? That’s the question James Spray had to answer in 2020. He joined Sinfin Running Club in Derby 13 years prior, at the behest of its then chairman Chris Morrison, and discovered an instant love for the sport. But with dwindling numbers, the pandemic and the loss of the clubhouse to contend with, the future of his beloved Sinfin hung in the balance.
Luckily, he’s not a man to shirk a challenge and, three years on, the club is a grassroots success story. What’s the magic formula? ‘The first thing on the agenda was to find the club a new home, which came in the form of The Crossbar,’ says Spray. ‘It’s a local sports club with changing rooms and a bar. They’ve made us feel really at home, putting pictures of some of the running club on the wall.’
Equally important was positioning Sinfin as a club for everyone. ‘My whole ethos was to foster inclusion,’ says Spray. ‘So when I took over as chairman, I said, “Everyone’s welcome at this club, not just the racing snakes.” It takes courage for people to join a club, as there’s a tendency to think, “I’m not good enough,”’ he says. Spray then initiated a Couch to 5K programme, which resulted in an influx of new members. Sinfin’s open-door policy also attracted two refugee runners, David and Jacob, who are now training to be part of the refugee team at the next Olympics. ‘They’re a huge asset to the club,’ says Spray. ‘They run in trainers and clothing donated by members of the club and regularly win parkruns in the local area – so they’re an amazing advert for our club.’
Another success story has come in the form of Dan Winter, a runner with autism who joined Sinfin two years ago. ‘I think the club – and running in general – has given him that confidence,’ says Spray. ‘He now has a full-time job, which he loves, and running has given him that momentum.’ Spray and Winter ran The York Marathon together in 2022, Winter’s first 26.
