A Renfrewshire cricket club is in line for a major investment in its facilities.
Ferguslie Cricket Club has been awarded £162,000 from sportscotland's Sport Facilities Fund, covering half the cost of a new pavilion.
What the New Pavilion Will Include
The building will feature two modern changing rooms, accessible shower and toilet facilities, and additional club spaces including a kitchen.
The work is intended to address long-standing limitations of the club's current facility, which is restricted in both capacity and accessibility.
Ferguslie Cricket Club already has strong participation across its senior and junior teams. It hopes the new pavilion will support growth in girls' and women's cricket, and increase its ability to host multiple teams and deliver more programmes.
'A Tremendous Vote of Confidence'
David Love, club secretary at Ferguslie Cricket Club, told the Renfrewshire Gazette: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this significant investment from sportscotland.
"It is a tremendous vote of confidence in our vision for the future of Ferguslie Cricket Club and brings us much closer to delivering facilities that will benefit our members and the wider community for generations to come."
He added: "Our aim is to create an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy cricket, regardless of age, gender or ability. We are particularly excited about the opportunities the new pavilion will create to grow participation among women and girls as the game continues to develop across Scotland."
Part of a Wider National Round
The award forms part of a wider boost to Scotland's sporting infrastructure, with an additional £5 million of National Lottery funding allocated for the next two years.
Forbes Dunlop, chief executive officer of sportscotland, said: "The impact of the sportscotland Sport Facilities Fund cannot be overstated. Without that investment, and the investment and commitment of our local and national partners, Scotland's sporting infrastructure would look very different today."
He added: "I'd like to thank the people involved in the 16 projects given funding in this round, including Ferguslie Cricket Club; they've shown a real commitment to ensuring sporting opportunities are protected and increased in Renfrewshire."
The Sport Facilities Fund has been doubled to £10 million for the next two years. It supports projects that create or improve places for sport and physical activity, prioritising plans that increase access to participation, help people progress in sport and remove barriers — particularly in rural areas, areas of deprivation and among underrepresented groups.
A total of 16 projects across Scotland were supported in the latest round, sharing nearly £2.4 million. Since 2002 the fund has backed 839 projects and awarded more than £122 million, helping to secure just under £900 million of investment in Scotland's sport facilities once match funding from partners is counted.
Minister Welcomes the Awards
Sports minister Maree Todd said: "This represents a significant milestone for sportscotland's Sport Facilities Fund, and will deliver meaningful benefits for local communities across Scotland.
"By improving local facilities and widening access to participation, particularly for underrepresented groups and communities facing the greatest barriers, these projects will help ensure that more people can lead active, healthy lives."