Marston praises community response
Portsmouth CC chairman Rick Marston has praised the club’s local community for getting behind their pavilion redevelopment plans.
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 yesterday, £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.