At Redbridge, we believe in giving back to our community. We particularly try to give to organisations and areas where we believe our support can make a real difference.
That’s why we’re proud to support Matson Rugby Club. A cornerstone of Gloucester’s vibrant sporting community, it is located just three miles south of Gloucester City Centre.
Founded in 1957, Matson Rugby Club began as a grassroots initiative, bringing together players from the surrounding council estate.
To us, Matson RFC is much more than a rugby club—it’s a testament to resilience, community spirit, and the power of teamwork. These are all values close to us here at Redbridge and we feel they have built the foundation for our success as one of the leading heating and renewable technology installers in the South West.
Since its early beginnings, it has grown into one of Gloucestershire’s most successful and well-respected clubs.
Achievement
Matson RFC now competes in the Regional 1 South West league. Their first XV team even ranks within the top ten.
This is a remarkable achievement for a club that began from such humble beginnings. Although we celebrate its success, we are not surprised. At Redbridge we truly believe that everyone deserves a chance to feel “part of the team” and learn how to excel.
The club operates teams for all levels and ages, including a second XV, third XV, Matson Colts, and junior sides, creating opportunities for players of all abilities to engage in sport, build skills, and form lifelong friendships.
Over its history, Matson has celebrated an impressive 66 county cup victories, including 29 wins by the first XV in the North Gloucestershire Combination Senior Cup.
How We Support Matson Rugby Club
Our Director describes our relationship with the club as a heartfelt initiative that aligns with our core values. Our donations continue a virtuous cycle that begins with our installing renewable technologies locally such as solar panels.
To support Matson RFC, we then re-direct paybacks we get from the energy produced by solar panel installations. This money we receive is called a FiT payment.
The government introduced these in order to encourage energy companies to “buy back” electricity from people with small-scale renewable energy installations.
How Installing Solar Panels Can Make You Money
FiT payments are made by energy companies to anyone who generates their own electricity. FiT has now been replaced by a similar payback called The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).
Functioning similarly to FiT, SEG requires electricity suppliers to pay small-scale, often domestic, generators of low-carbon electricity for their excess/unused electrical grid contributions.
For example, if you get solar panels on you roof there will be many days – especially in summer – when you produce more electricity than you need. If you have battery storage as well, you can store it. However, many do not because batteries can be expensive.
Therefore, instead of “going to waste,” any excess electricity produced can be set up to be exported back to the National Grid. Any renewable electricity produced by renewable technologies in your home or business can be fed back into the grid.
Under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) you are paid for every single unit of electricity your system feeds back. However, you won’t be paid (or charged) for the electricity you produce that you use yourself.
SEG means that local electricity companies have to track what your solar panels export back to the grid and then pay you pre-set amounts according to previously agreed upon tariffs for each kilowatt unit.
Once you’ve signed up for FiT or SEG, the payments are guaranteed for 20 years. They are not only tax free, but because they are index-linked, they don’t lose their value and won’t be reduced by inflation.
Why We Support Matson Rugby Club
Redbridge installs many solar panel, and other renewable technology, arrays each year. It then redirects FiT payments assigned to us in order to offer them as donations.
This is how we support Matson RFC with the sun. For us, it’s about sharing our good fortune with others and investing in a community that inspires us.
We are especially proud to support Matson because, to us, they represent so much more than a game. Located in the heart of Gloucester’s largest council estate, the club is a hub for the local community.
It provides opportunities for young people to engage in positive activities, discover their potential and create a brighter future for themselves.
This aligns perfectly with our commitment to strengthening and uplifting lower-income areas within our region.
We see Matson RFC as more than a sports club: a powerful force for good, uniting people, transforming lives and offering a sense of belonging in an area brimming with untapped potential.
A Future Built on Community
Matson Rugby Club’s story is one of grit and determination, and we are proud to play a small part in its ongoing success.
We support this team to cheer on a club that embodies the same values we hold dear: teamwork, commitment and determination.
As Matson continues to grow and inspire, we’ll be celebrating on the sidelines: proud of their “wins” both on and off the field.
Here’s to the future successes of Matson RFC and the incredible community they represent.