Midsomer Norton Cricket Club has everything crossed as it waits for confirmation of a Sport England grant of £45,000, which will enable their much-needed new changing room project to go ahead.

The changing rooms, which are nearly a century old and once housed the original clubhouse as well, are beyond refurbishment and will need to be pulled down once the season has finished. In its place are plans for a new, slightly extended building,

already with planning permission from B&NES Council, which will include four new changing rooms and showers, an officials’ changing room, disabled access and vital storage facilities.

The club, which celebrates its 140th anniversary next year, needs these facilities now more than ever, with a thriving Youth Section, and the ground is also being used by Somerset Ladies and the Men’s over-50s and 60s teams. The club is in the top 5% of youth cricket take-up in the country and runs sections from Under-7s to Under-19s. On a Friday evening, the club is a bustling hub of over fifty 7–9 year-olds and their families, who are taking part in the All Stars training, which provides eight week summer tuition until the end of school term to help foster a love of cricket in young people.

The club has three Saturday, one Sunday and occasional mid-week teams and are working hard to make the club a centre for the local community. It is used as an after game base for the Midsomer Norton Methodist Cricketers and its main

sponsors are local firms, Techniglaze, Thatcher + Hallam, Continuforms and King Watkins.

As well as the Sport England Grant, £5,000 has come from both the Sperring Trust and Midsomer Norton Town Council for the new changing rooms, a bequest from a club member has been received and the club will then be fundraising the rest of the money for the project themselves. If any ex-players or local businesses would like to support the new changing rooms, please contact Graeme King on: 01761 413869.

In memory of a much-loved member and player, Chris Tabb, a special match is being arranged on Sunday, 27th August which will see the President’s XI take on the Club XI. All proceeds made on the day will go to Dorothy House Hospice Care.