Inactive children.

[Workingman]

Cromwell, your school week was almost the same as mine. I played for the school football and cricket teams and we always had at least one practice match after school, depending on the season.

My son is a very good footballer, but his school did not do inter-school games. I helped train his Sunday league team and was as quick in my late forties as some of his teenage pals in the team! My daughter was a very quick sprinter, very quick, but there were no local clubs for her to join, this, in a city of nearly one million people!

We seem to have gone away from keeping the masses fit and now only concentrate on the elite, whoever they are. And it is not just down to schools selling off playing fields, there are still plenty of council run fields about, it is more about the mindset of schools and parents regarding sports.

[JoM]

We used to have a really good athletics stadium in this town. It was used a lot by schools, individuals, for athletic meetings and was home to a local athletics club. John was a member for years, he was a sprinter.

However, in their wisdom the local council decide to close it, demolish it and sell the land for housing and that excellent facility was lost.
Then they decided that they wouldn't sell it and it would revert to a sports and leisure area. Still nothing has been done with it, last I saw was that a number of football pitches were going to be created on the land, but the council have admitted that it shouldn't have been demolished in the first place.

[Osc]

it is more about the mindset of schools and parents regarding sports.

I agree. Michael is a very sporty little boy, golf from a young age, football, tennis, and even did a term of baseball last summer. His school's ethos is more Gaelic games, but he prefers soccer and is in the local club - his Daddy has had proper training to coach the under 8s so they can be in it together. Michael and Mr Osc play indoor football games, and also hit a shuttlecock around when he is here. Kellie is beginning to join in too, she loves to run, kicks a ball, tries with a golf club and soft ball. Some children aren't very sporty but there is always something they can play or do for exercise, however the will has to be there with parents and schools to encourage them, and also get rid of much of the stupid Elf and Safety nonsense.