Portsmouth CC delight at ‘warmth’ of support

‘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-to12-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.

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.

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.’