Clubs are sidestepped (From Penarth Times)

Clubs are sidestepped

10:36am Thursday 25th October 2012 in Letters

HOW saddened I was to hear that it seems both Penarth Boxing Club and Penarth Gym club were again being ‘sidestepped’ by the Vale Council.

These two proud clubs have long been a part of Penarth’s make-up and play an important role in the provision of regular sport for children and youth of the town.

This in turn provides a focus for discipline and strength of character and more importantly camaraderie and social interaction – an important part of growing up.

These disciplines are just as important as football, rugby, cricket and tennis.

In my 25 years of being involved with a local football club, I found all too often that the Vale heavily favoured anything in Barry before Penarth and we had to fight tooth and nail.

For example we fought for years for an all-weather training facility in Penarth (to be used by all sports) but were always knocked back. Then, lo and behold, an all-weather facility appeared in Barry!

In recent months we have witnessed GB hosting the most successful Olympic and Paralympic games and all politicians and persons in authority agreed that we must build on this success – that our young people must be given every chance to emulate their heroes and role models.

That didn’t last long then! Shame on you Vale council.

Peter James Former chairman of Cogan Coronation AFC