AFTER 50 years of service, on and off the field at Tavistock Cricket Club, Stuart Munday is to make his biggest appeal — for councils, businesses and the local community to help raise funds to revamp the club's moorland pavilion.

Stuart, the club's president, is looking for £28,000 to revamp the clubhouse, which is proud of its moorland home at The Ring, overlooking the town.

He told the Times: 'This is an amateur club and we solely depend on our volunteers to keep us going.

'There are so many who have given their time and services for free because of the love for the club and the game.

'People like Tony Worth, a retired builder, who has done so much around the ground.

'But the ageing pavilion is badly in need of a complete revamp and that takes money.

'We need £3,000 for a new boiler; £5,000 to rewire the club; £3,000 to replace four shower units; £2,000 for seating for two changing rooms; £3,000 for new kitchen units; £2,000 for an external roof ladder and £10,000 to re-tile the pavilion roof.'

Stuart, who still turns out as a player for the club at the age of 70, has made applications to the English Cricket Trust, BIFFA and West Devon Borough Council. He was delighted when Devon Council Council recently granted the club £2,000 towards its refurbishment.

Stuart first played for Whitchurch at the age of 14 before 'transferring' to Tavistock in 1965, joining his schoolfriend Jack Davey, who went on to play first class county cricket with Gloucestershire.

He is anxious to see the clubhouse, much in need of renovation, transformed and attracting more members, both cricketing and social.

His desire is driven by his love of the game, but also to put something back into a sport that has given him so much pleasure as a player and made him so many friends.

'A few years ago we put in a planning application to knock down the pavilion and start again,' he said.

'That's when clubs could apply to the English Cricket Board and ask for a grant of up to £300,000 towards a pavilion — unfortunately those funding days of large grants are no longer.

'What gets me annoyed is that the ECB has been given £36-million from Sky to distribute throughout the game and £24-million of that has gone straight to the first class counties.

'Maybe those counties give a contract to an overseas player worth £500,000, when surely that money should be going to grass roots cricket instead.'

Tavistock Cricket Club is steeped in history, being formed by the Duke of Bedford in 1849. It is the second oldest cricket club in Devon.

In 1953 the then duke died and left the ownership of the ground to the club at a peppercorn rent for 100 years; in 2052 that ownership will revert to Tavistock Town Council.

Stuart is the current chairman of the Devon Cricket League and is pleased that although the sport nationally is losing playing numbers, the county itself has 160 clubs and is growing.

He said that one of his proudest achievements in nearly 60 years in the game was his part in helping to raise £30,000 through the David Shepherd Cricket Trust to benefit the county' s youth cricket.

Last year Stuart received an Outstanding Services to Cricket award by the ECB and this year was honoured to be named administrator of the year at a local sports personality award ceremony — presented to him by swimming star Sharron Davies and rugby international Gareth Thomas.

Stuart said: 'I have been very fortunate in my career. I have worked for Ladbrokes, owned Broadway Sports, been employed as a management consultant for a London based company and had a business selling property in Spain.

'All these things I just loved doing. I've been very lucky. It's the same with the cricket.

'I have got so much out of the game and made some lifelong friends; now I just want to put something back and by raising money for Tavistock Cricket Club, it will benefit the club and leave a legacy for future generations of the town to enjoy their cricket.

'It's so important that youngsters today don't just sit in front of a computer or television but get out there and become more active and fitter by playing sports like cricket.

'The cricket club is a real community club providing a great facility on and off the pitch for people of all ages and especially our younger members.

'Any help from businesses or tradesmen in the town would be greatly appreciated, as it is hoped that much of the work will be completed in time for the start of the season in May.

'Any help financially, or if, for example, a qualified electrician or a decorator could give their time, it would be greatly appreciated.'

If you can help get the fundraising ball rolling, contact Stuart on 07855 848002 or email [email protected]">[email protected]