Mersea Island RFC is on the move thanks to a National Lottery cash boost.

The club will be moving from their Mersea Outdoors home at the end of the 2013-14 season and relocate to the Glebe Playing Fields.

The move has been made possible by the allocation of £50,000 of Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund.

The money will go towards building a changing block at the Glebe, the construction of which will begin in early 2014, and bring the rugby club into the heart of the Island’s sporting community.

Mersea Island RUFC Chairman Dave Bredin said: “This is fantastic news for the club.

“We now have the opportunity for our own facilities in the heart of the community.

“From this we can drive the club forward introducing junior rugby to the island and expand on the number of people involved with the club.”

Following foundation in 1989 MIRFC played in Eastern Counties division five, have enjoyed a lot of success and now play in Eastern Counties division one with aspirations of moving to higher levels.

However, without this funding playing rugby on Mersea Island would have ceased at the end of the 2013/14 season.

An opening event will be arranged for the summer of 2014 to which local people will be invited.

West Mersea mayor Peter Clements said: “"All of us on the West Mersea Town Council are delighted about this award.

“It will help give Mersea Island Rugby Club a new beginning with their very own changing facilities for the first time.

“It is much deserved and we wish them well for the future. I am sure the Town Council will do all it can to make the club welcome on The Glebe as I am sure will all the other users."

Sport England today revealed that more than 1,300 local sports projects across the country have now received National Lottery funding through Inspired Facilities, part of its Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme.

Sport England’s Chair, Nick Bitel, said: “A year on from the Olympics, this National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy on Mersea

“With investment now on offer from our Inspired Facilities Fund until 2017, we look forward to supporting many more sports clubs in the area who play such a vital role in grassroots sport.”