JUNIOR footballers in Alderley Edge have rolled up their sleeves to clear their pavilion for a revamp - but they need cash to the tune of £50,000 to finish the job.

The chairman of Alderley Athletic Junior Football Club Jonathan Rowley has secured a lease from Macclesfield Borough Council for the pavilion at Chorley Hall Lane football ground and is appealing for funding to restore the delapidated hut.

And players and parents from the club, which recently achieved FA Charter status, got stuck in at the pavilion and loaded skips to clear the way for work to start.

Dad-of-two Jonathan, 43, of Davey Lane, said: "We’re delighted to secure the lease but the pavilion is in a terrible state. We want to turn it into changing rooms and a clubhouse and have got outline plans and a project manager to make sure we get things right first time. We just need to fund it and are applying to several local and national bodies but haven’t been successful yet. We’d love to see a local business step forward."

The council took ownership of the pitch after legal battles with the previous owner who took on the lease and tried to sell the pavilion. The chequered ownership history left the pavilion neglected.

Jonathan added: "It’s for the benefit of the village that it’s restored."

Jonathan’s plea for funding was rejected by the Alderley Institute Trust, a fund from the sale of the Institute on London Road and set aside for community projects.

He added: "I don’t understand why the trust rejected us. The project is a positive thing for young people and sport so if we can’t have the money who can?"

The trust said in their response to Jonathan that the state of the economy is to blame for his refused application.

Kevin Ranshaw, secretary for the trust, said: "The investment markets are terrible at the moment and the funds have decreased. But each application is taken on its own merits and it’s important a request shows clearly what the applicant intends to do and their attempt to find other funding sources."

The trust accounts are available to view on the Charity Commission website, and the 2008 round up will be uploaded soon.

Trustee Mary Maczkowiak said: "We’ve given a lot of money to community projects, and £9,000 to junior football since I have been involved. Mr Rowley is welcome to reapply and make it clear how the project will benefit the community."

But in the meantime the pavilion remains in a sorry state.

Jonathan added: "There is so much energy from the parents to get things moving and we are just waiting to raise the money and get started."

Contact Jonathan on 07817 390072 or at jonathan@alderleyathleticjfc.co.uk  if you want to help. Alderley Athletic Junior Football Club has places for six to nine year olds and welcomes girl players.