THE dream of a new sports pavilion at Sutton Scotney playing field is set to become a reality.

After four long years of fundraising and grant applications, the Gratton Trust, which runs the recreation ground, has netted £193,000 from the UK's largest sports charity, the Football Foundation.

This, together with the £122,000 raised by villagers and other smaller grants, means building work can begin next month.

David Small, chairman of the trust, said the goal was to have the new pavilion ready for the start of the new football season in September.

He said: "The hope is the pavilion will be used by an expanded football club, the tennis club, and any other groups in the village that wants to organise outdoor activities such as athletics or basketball.

"At the moment the demand is for football."

Planning permission was granted by Winchester City Council last year. The original scheme also included a gym, but was downsized after a failed bid for Lottery funding.

The new brick building will replace the ageing 53-year-old wooden-sided pavilion which has a leaking roof.

The modern new pavilion will include a meeting room, kitchen, toilets, changing rooms and showers with separate facilities for the referee.

Mick Grimes, who manages the senior men's team, said: "It will make a huge difference. The old pavilion is awful.

"The showers don't work and the changing rooms are filthy. A new pavilion will encourage more people to join the club."

Mr Grimes, a firefighter, praised Mr Small and his committee of helpers, for their "patience and hard work" in getting the scheme off the ground.

The idea is to expand Sutton Scotney Football Club with a new girls' team and intermediate team to bridge the existing gap between adult and junior football as well as a ladies team.

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: "This new development will enable many more local people of all ages to get regular access to sport.

"It is thanks to the investment by the Premier League, the FA, Sport England and the Government, that the Football Foundation exists to support projects like this new facility in Winchester.

"The Football Foundation has funded 89 projects across Hampshire worth nearly £17m since its launch in 2000, and we welcome more applications from the region."

Cash support for the new pavilion has also come from Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council, Wonston Parish Council, the Rank Charity and Hampshire Playing Fields Association.