An Ely sports club kitchen that was built 25 years ago is in desperate need of funds to carry out repairs.

They are currently second place in a public vote and need as much help as they can get.

The clubhouse kitchen is on the Ely Outdoor Sports Association (EOSA) grounds and volunteers say it has become unhygienic, with broken and cracked flooring and surfaces.

To help raise money to replace the kitchen, association members have applied for a £5,000 grant from the Calor Community Fund – being off the main gas grid makes them eligible.

Currently in second place – with 2,068 votes – to get through to the next round they need to get as many votes as possible.

Julia Gilbert, of EOSA, said: “We desperately need as much support as we can get. We are so close, we don’t want to let the opportunity slip away.

“We are in second position at the moment but the first position project is beginning to edge away and there is a newcomer that has surged into third place.

“It takes five minutes to register and vote, please help them keep this vital community facility open.”

EOSA is a volunteer run organisation that provides sporting and social facilities not only for its member clubs but for the wider community as a whole.

Income for the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities is generated through membership fees and facility hire charges.

Ms Gilbert added: “It’s not only used by EOSA’s member sports clubs but also by Ely City Hockey Club and Ely Tigers Rugby Club for the preparation of match teas every weekend.

“The kitchen is also used by members of the local community who hire the bar and social area for parties and functions.

“The money will be used to remove the current kitchen units, sink, oven, hob, extractor hood, floor and wall tiles.

“The kitchen walls will be painted and a new seamless heavy duty vinyl floor will be laid before new kitchen units, worktop, sink, oven, hob and extractor are fitted.

“The walls above the worktop will be tiled. Quotes have been obtained for the supply of the materials as well as for the labour to fit everything.

“Although we will be able to fund the labour required, we are hoping that members of the clubs of the relevant trades required will donate some of their time and thus free up some of the monies raised at fundraising events to be used on other very necessary projects.”

To vote, visit: www.calor.co.uk/communityfund/new-kitchen-for-the-clubhouse-at-ely-outdoor-sports-association-eosa-