WIMBLEDON, Lord's and Waterloo look out - Leigh is on a £ million-plus sporting roll.

Exciting plans to boost tennis, Cricket and bowling facilities at Leigh Cricket Club's Beech Walk ground were revealed this week.

Lottery cash in the shape of a £326,000 Sport England grant from the English Sports Council, another £25,000 Sports Foundation grant, a £172,000 interest free loan from the Lawn Tennis Association and £26,000 from the Club will fund the ambitious scheme.

This millennium milestone in the club's 146 year history will be signified by a name change -- the official title is now Leigh Cricket, Tennis and Bowling Club.

The transformation work starts on September 4 and will be completed in time for next season.

Heralding a new era, club chairman Ian Brogden highlighted the changes which will give Leigh cricket and tennis facilities which will be the envy of many.

Top quality playing surfaces with all-weather astro turf, six floodlit courts and a new, seventh court for specialist coaching are planned.

Mr Brogden revealed: "The new pavilion will have top facilities including changing rooms for two cricket teams, ladies and gents tennis changing rooms with showers and facilities for the disabled.

"A new refreshment area will cater for cricket teas and other functions.

"Three all-weather cricket nets practice areas are also planned where players can keep in form all-year round.

"We hope with these new facilities we will be able to attract the best tennis players. We hope to get more senior players, are encouraging juniors and are engaging extra coaching staff.

"At the moment the changing facilities are diabolical, tea

facilities are unhealthy and unhygienic, there aren't

any tennis changing facilities and three of the courts are poor."

Mr Brogden said next season cricket facilities would be "equal to any" in the north west. The club will field four senior and four junior teams. Currently Leigh's 1st X1 is lying in fourth spot in the Liverpool Competition, the region's premier league.

He added: "This is important for Leigh. These are participation sports and will get the kids off the streets. We are looking forward to an exciting future."