Macclesfield Cricket Club has been awarded a grant of almost £50,000 to improve its tired facilities.
Gary Foy, operations manager of the club, put in the bid to Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund and said it is perfect timing to help carry out much needed improvements in the club’s 165th anniversary year.
He said: "This is money that we couldn’t have hoped to raise in such a short space of time.
"We aren’t county level but I have no doubt we are the highest ranking sports club in Macclesfield.
"We want to do justice by our players. We want to be in a position where our facilities reflect the level that we are playing at."
Gary added: "If you go back 15 years we were really struggling financially, but over the course of the last five years we’ve put the finances in shape and we’re redeveloping areas of the site.
"We spent a lot of money on getting a good pitch and making sure our ground staff have the right equipment.
"We’ve also spent a lot of money refurbishing the club house and the veranda. This grant means we can continue with that."
The money will enable the club – which also houses Macclesfield Hockey Club and lawn bowls at its Victoria Road site – to replace the dilapidated changing facilities, incorporating home and away changing rooms with showers, and put in disabled access.
Simon Griffiths, club chairman, said: "I’m absolutely delighted that we have been successful in our bid. It’s the first stage of renovating the old ground and although we have a long way to go, at least we have some sunshine in this awful summer!"
MP David Rutley, who visited the club to see its plans for the money, added: "I’m delighted to hear that the club has been successful in securing this grant."
The club has also introduced a commemorative contribution scheme, which gives people the option to buy a plaque for the new pavilion.
