A BIG set back has been suffered by the Fernhurst Pavilion 2022 appeal to raise £1million for a state-of-the-art sports centre.

The trustees hoped to raise the lion’s share of the money needed through substantial institutional grants – but the Football Foundation has declined to back the scheme.

Trustees are now examing a ‘plan B’ – a single-storey building with a slightly enlarged footprint. It means extending onto the two previous extensions to give enough changing rooms for all the sports. The new fundraising target would be £500,000.

Appeal chairman John Mitchell, said: “They told us they considered the current pavilion to be adequate.

“We, of course, disagree and are still lobbying the other sporting foundations along with charitable trusts and councils. Even if it was ‘adequate,’ it is not what Fernhurst deserves or needs.”

“We also have a sense from wider conversations that our village is being unfairly ‘marked down’ because it is perceived as very prosperous. As with most villages, this is not the case, but it certainly seems to be the misconception of some who live in towns.

“The arguments for Pavilion 2022 remain valid. Most people accept we can’t struggle on with the current building.

“Local pledges and donations now amount to £145,000, which is fantastic.

“A beautiful, new building with balconies and more social areas was the ideal, but we will have to cut our cloth.

“I now know from the support that if Fernhurst has to do this on its own, it can.

“The Football Foundation decision is a big setback but we are not even at half-time yet.

“The arguments in favour of Pavilion 2022 are stronger than ever and we remain determined to build for the future.”

Celebrity campaign supporter Sir Tim Rice, who is vice-president of Fernhurst Cricket Club, was back last month with his Heartaches team, who beat Fernhurst’s Sunday XI by seven wickets taken by one of his nephews.

Sunday XI skipper Simon Vigar said: “Sir Tim has been bringing his Heartaches team to the village for more than 40 years now so it is one of our favourite fixtures. Its great to have his support for the Pavilion 2022 campaign, as we want to get better facilities for our youngsters.”

An online survey conducted in 2017 confirmed overwhelming support for a new pavilion, with 72 per cent of respondents agreeing the recreation ground plays a vital role for children from Fernhurst and the surrounding towns and villages.

Villagers have raised money for all the recent improvements along with charities, councils and sports bodies.

Improvements include a new, fully drained football pitch, cricket nets with two lanes and three tennis courts.

The current pavilion was opened in 1971. It has been patched up to comply with modern regulations on disabled access, food hygiene, child welfare and the like. In a 2017 survey, 79 per cent of respondents classed the facilities as ‘unacceptable’.

•Future fundraising events include a ‘Legends’ cricket match, a black-tie ball and a major running event.