HARTY: On the importance of investing in youth sport

THE last away fixture of the season is, while in a number of seasons vital to the Albion's campaign, also a reason for Seagulls supporters to travel in numbers and party.

Unfortunately, I couldn't make the trip to Milton Keynes last weekend and, as much as I will always support the Albion, what I did witness back here in Sussex was perhaps far more significant than a goalless draw in League One.

On Friday night, I had the pleasure of compring the annual Worthing Dynamos presentation night at the Charmendean Centre. More than 150 young footballers had their achievements recognised, not just about winning, but the fact that they all enjoy playing the beautiful game.

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On Saturday morning, I popped over to Broadwater Green, and watched Broadwater CC under-10 colts play in their first fixture against Findon. This was followed on Saturday afternoon when, gripped by an unavailability crisis, Broadwater 2nd XI fielded perhaps one of the youngest sides in the club's long history, with five players aged 14, 17 and three 15-year-olds taking on Southwater.

On Sunday, my Ferring under-15 football side rounded off their season with an excellent and exciting game played in driving rain against Pagham, where both sides gave 100 per cent.

The weekend was rounded off on Monday morning when I watched the senior cricket colts of Worthing and Chippingdale lock horns in a great game at the Manor Ground.

Readers might at this point ask, where are you going on this, Harty?

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But the games I watched were not the only ones going on locally and highlight how many youngsters we have playing and enjoying sport locally.

Today is Election Day, both nationally and locally. With an expected high turnout in the General Election, it almost certainly means that the local council elections will have the highest turnout in more than a generation.

So, whichever party controls the Town Hall by Friday night, it means that rather than the usual poor turnout, the ruling will have a clear mandate from the local electorate.

And, to my mind, one of the most important things the council has to do is to invest in the youth of the town through sport and leisure.

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Perhaps, even more key, is the fact that this town and the surrounding areas has a drug problem '“ the like we've never seen before.

The drug dealers prey on a number of our youngsters '“ perhaps prompted by boredom and a lack of local facilities '“ which is why the council has to act fast.

All the time our youngsters, of all ages, are playing sport or taking part in other activities, they are staying on the right road. And, with them being the future adult population of the town, that will only benefit the long-term future of a place we all like living in.

I'm not nave enough to think the drug issue will disappear overnight if the council up their game. The police are also, as always, working hard and it is, like all over the world, an ongoing fight. But sport funding at grass roots, be it football, cricket, boxing, hockey, rugby or golf, starting with the very young, will build firm foundations in the community.

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Neglect leads to decay and, as most dentists will tell you, once decay reaches a certain level there is no way back.

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