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A visit to Malleny Park these days shows just how much progress the club has made since hitting a low point that threatened its very existence two seasons ago.

While success on the field - five wins from the opening five league fixtures means Donaldson's men sit proudly at the top of the league table - there is a buzz around the place that suggests things are going equally well off it.

The match programme offers a commercial menu listing sponsorship options and, with crowd numbers growing, Pert believes he and his colleagues are pushing at an open door.

"This is a community club and we get a lot of support from local people and businesses. At the moment, the crowds are getting better for home games and that is good to see."

The decision to work with the local community extends beyond the playing field, with the clubhouse also regarded as a facility to be used by locals.

He said: "We have good connections with local companies. For example, we have a local farmer who comes in for home matches to sell venison burgers. We are also supported by some national businesses such as Halcrow and Standard Life.

The club has also struck a lucrative deal with luxury car company Lexus Edinburgh, which is backing the future of the club with a package that involves the supply of playing kit for the hundreds of youngsters who are active in the thriving age group sections.

Things are clearly going well but, just as there is no complacency on the pitch, those responsible for the commercial aspect at the club are not resting on their laurels. They know from painful experience how easy it is for finances to take a downturn.

It is just two seasons since the club was facing the prospect of being forced to close after expected SRU funding failed to materialise. As a result, as Pert explained, the hard work needed to ensure the club remains viable never stops.

"Although we don't pay players, there are a huge number of costs associated with running the club. On the playing side we have to pay for various things such as the services of a physio and player insurance. And we have a massive number of kids playing. All of that needs organisation and funding."

While activity has stepped up a notch since his arrival, there are several established initiatives that have been successful. One of those is the annual raffle with a top prize of shirt sponsorship for the senior team, which was won by Longstone Kia for the current season.

"That is extremely popular. It costs £200 per entry and, in return, the winner gets advertising and exposure worth around £15,000", explained Pert. "Every year, more and more companies are entering the raffle."

As a father of three sons playing for various age group teams, Pert already had experience of how the club was regarded as a focal point for the people of Currie and Balerno when he was asked to become involved. He had also seen the imaginative ideas such as the 24-hour sponsored Rugathon that featured teams across the age spectrum from primary 3 school kids to more mature members of the club.

Pert and his fellow committee men have no specific target for fundraising but they know that the work must continue for Currie to survive. "I don't actually know how much it costs to run the club. So I will consider our efforts to have been a success if we reach the end of the season and we have not run out of money," he said.

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