Portsmouth CC overcoming ‘perfect storm’ to close in on £20,000 pavilion project fundraiser target

The Southsea seafront-based club recently launched an online Crowdfunder with the aim of reaching a £20,000 target by January 3. With Christmas fast approaching, over 200 people have financially backed a project which will cost over £70,000 in total and make the pavilion one of the best in Hampshire. As of lunchtime today, £16,881 had been raised - 84 per cent of the target. ‘We’re getting close, it’s really exciting,’ enthused Marston. ‘We could hardly have picked a worse time to do this. ‘We haven’t been able to hold any fundraising events, and to do it in the run-up to Christmas is a bit suicidal as well! ‘People have got better things to do with their money at this time of the year, so it’s been a perfect storm really.’ Despite the pandemic and the festive season, though, Portsmouth appear on course to hit their target. ‘The most positive thing for me has been the way the community has pulled together to support us,’ said Marston. ‘To have got 200 separate individuals is a great volume of people, it’s brilliant. ‘To read the warmth of the feedback has been great as well, because we do see ourselves as a community-based club. ‘Having said that, there is a pyramid structure - we want to get local kids involved and at the top level get them playing the highest standard they can.’ The pavilion project - including roof repairs, a new balcony and major internal work - will cost between £70-75,000. Local company PMC Construction - whose managing director Steve Cripps is chairman of Baffins Milton Rovers FC - are lined up to do the building work. ‘A big factor has been Paul Woolf, one of our members, he’s the CEO at the King’s Theatre,’ explained Marston ‘PMC are doing work at the King’s and Paul has been the link for us. ‘I know PMC have a pedigree in terms of supporting sport, so we look forward to working with them. ‘A local development company, St Cross Homes, has come in as a major project sponsor. ‘Also, so many local businesses have also supported us - Tenth Hole, Indian Cottage, Gtec, Woodgate Solicitors, The Eastney Tavern. It is vital Portsmouth CC hit their target. ‘We need to get to the £20,000 mark,’ said Marston. ‘With Gift Aid, the figure will be over £25,000. ‘If we don’t hit the £20,000, basically everyone gets their money back, so we will get there somehow. ‘If we can go over it, the quality of the overall project will be improved - better coat hooks, door handles, everything.’ PMC have said they can start work next month, with hopes the project can be completed by the time the 2021 grassroots cricket season begins. ‘We haven’t got external planning permission yet, but we have permission to work on the roof and internally,’ revealed the chairman. ‘PMC have said it’s an eight-to-12-week project. ‘The dream is for all the work to be done by the first home game of the season.’ With the Southern Premier League fixtures just released, that means Andover’s visit to St Helens on Saturday, May 8. Portsmouth are due to start the 2021 season at Rowledge the previous weekend. Marston said the club have already pencilled in some special attractions for next summer. They are due to host an MCC XI on a date to be confirmed. ‘We had one a few years ago, it was a very good fixture,’ he recalled. ‘The MCC team will be mainly made up of very good club cricketers, but sometimes you get ex-pros as well.’ Portsmouth are also hosting a fundraising event for charity Cricket for Heroes. The cricket will be in the shape of a four-team T10 tournament - the first time St Helens will have staged such a competition. One of the teams will consist of players drawn from the armed services. Portsmouth’s new pavilion will obviously benefit the cricketing community, but Marston is hoping it will boost the club’s coffers as well through being able to stage more events. ‘With the new facilities, there will be a social side of the pavilion and a changing room side,’ he said. ‘That means we could have a colts game going on, and also host a wedding anniversary or other such party. ‘It will give us a lot more flexibility in terms of staging events. ‘We could even hold wedding receptions - there will be stunning views from the balcony.’ To support the pavilion project, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ and search for ‘Portsmouth CC redevelopment’.