CRICKETERS in Minehead are close to achieving their dream of building a new pavilion after securing a major funding boost.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in partnership with Sport England has awarded the town's cricket club a £180,000 grant towards the cost of the much-needed facility.

And ECB national funding and facilities manager Bruce Cruse said the organisation was pleased to invest in the new pavilion project because the club had worked hard to support ECB development policies at junior level and also with women's and girls' cricket.

"The new pavilion will be built to ECB specification and this high quality facility will be key to sustaining participation in grass roots cricket over the coming years and will benefit the club and local community generally," said Mr Cruse.

Sport England property director Charles Johnston agreed the benefits and said the pavilion would be welcomed by club members, visiting teams and spectators.

"We are confident that the ECB's strategic approach to investing in high quality, sustainable facilities will help cricket to attract and retain many new participants and create more opportunities to develop sporting talent."with a £50,000 contribution from West Somerset Council already under their belts, along with fundraising, other grants and donations, and the option of a £25,000 interest-free loan from the ECB, club officials gave the green light for work to begin this week.

The club, which has been a feature of the town for almost 150 years, was facing an uncertain future after losing its original pitch as part of the redevelopment of the West Somerset Community College to provide a site for Minehead's new hospital.

Although it has a new pitch within the college playing fields, it is some way from the old pavilion, which in turn no longer meets ECB standards.

"The old pavilion is about 250 yards away from the new pitch so it made life pretty difficult," said club trustee Richard Strong.

"At one stage the future of the club was in doubt but after 70 meetings relating to planning and funding, numerous emails and telephone calls and 18 months of uncertainty, it is great to have been able to give the go ahead for the building of the new pavilion."

Mr Strong added: "We were all delighted when the ECB and Sport England made such a substantial grant as we could not afford such a major project from our own resources.

"Their offer of support came at a crucial time and gave the club the impetus and confidence to go flat out to fund a new pavilion."

The building, which is expected to be completed by April next year, will include two large changing rooms, umpires' changing room, a social area with bar and kitchen, showers, toilets and facilities for people with disabilities.

And although cricket will be the priority, the new pavilion will also be available to other groups and organisations.

Mr Strong said that in addition to the ECB and district council grants, support had also come from Minehead Town Council, the Fairfield Trust, Somerset Community Foundation and Somerset Playing Fields Association, which is the county's Lord Lieutenant's jubilee fund.

Club members and vice-presidents had also backed the development financially, with grants also coming from three local trusts who wished to remain anonymous.

"We acknowledge with gratitude the valuable support given to us by all these organisations," said Mr Strong.

"The matched funding raised by the club was a necessary condition of the ECB grant."

The club currently has three senior men's teams, midweek and Sunday teams and more than 100 junior cricketers - both boys and girls.

It also has a women's and girls' team, whose numbers are expanding.

Next season will see the club's 1st X1 play at their highest-ever level in the West of England Premier League after winning promotion this summer, and the women's team also won their league.

"Thanks to the tremendous efforts of club members, especially Stuart Tudball who won the South West Region BBC Unsung Hero Award in 2010 for services to youth cricket in West Somerset, the club has qualified for Academy and Kite Mark status," said Mr Strong.

"During the summer cricket is being played or coached most evenings and the club's qualified coaches also go into local schools to coach pupils as part of the curriculum."