MALVERN'S biggest sports club has big plans for 2006.

Malvern Rugby Football Club is aiming to raise £100,000 to build an extension to its Spring Lane clubhouse.

The proposed extension would add a sponsors' room, with a large window to watch matches from indoors, and a new kitchen. It would also include new toilets and a storage area, increasing the size of the building by more than a third.

It would also mean the existing sponsors' room could be used as a children's room, to provide indoor facilities for the club's 250-plus junior members.

Very much a part of the local community, the club's facilities are used by five schools and the University of Worcester. It is also committed to developing youth rugby and the extra space will enable it to get involved with coach mentoring, player development and rugby theory sessions at county and regional level.

The extra space and improved facilities will make the clubhouse a more attractive venue for functions. Already hired out for weddings and parties on a regular basis, the new extended building will be able to host functions for up to 170 people.

The club heard last week that it had been given £5,000 from Awards for All to fund initial architect and planning fees for the project.

Club treasurer John Taverner praised the role played by Amanda Smith and Mark Hammond, of Malvern Hills District Council's cultural services department, in putting the successful bid together.

He said the club would like to start work in summer 2006, although 2007 was a more realistic date given the amount of fund raising needed.

The club will apply for lottery funding of £50,000 towards the project and hopes members with building, carpentry and electrical skills will offer support in kind.

The club, which has 200 adult members, spent £10,000 this year on refurbishing its changing facilities for men and women, which are now among the best in the West Midlands.