Great article Kate. The contribution of Skem JFL to the town is difficult to comprehend unless you’ve witnessed it for yourself, and I am glad you were able to.

More than a 1,000 kids out every Sunday, with as many or more family on the side line, and hundreds of people involved in the admin, the coaching etc, out of a total population of around 40,000 in the town.

As a matter of (political) interest, I put the following motion a couple of years ago to the Tory council in an effort to get better support for Joe and colleagues’ efforts:

“That this Council recognise the extraordinary success of the Skelmersdale Junior
Football League, and the very valuable role played by the organisers of the League in facilitating healthy activity for a large number of young people in West Lancashire; That the Council recognise that the growth of the league in recent years, along with other footballing activities at the site, means that the Liverpool Road playing fields used for the League are under considerable pressure, and that the often muddy conditions are not conducive to the development of young people’s football skills. That in recognition of the above factors and the potential for continued expansion of the league, everything possible be done by the Council to assist the league in the running and further development of the league on satisfactory playing surfaces, including the arrangement and development of new playing areas.”

The Tory council chose not to recognise the issues, and voted through this mean-spirited, self-congratulatory and frankly patronising amendment:

‘That this Council recognise the valuable contribution made by the organisers of the Skelmersdale Junior League and the extensive support provided by the Council in facilitating healthy activity for a large number of young people.

That the Council will continue to support Football provision in West
Lancashire, in a sustainable way, balancing quality pitch provision against against
the resources available, in accordance with its Playing Pitch Strategy.”

(See http://webdocs.westlancsdc.gov.uk/coins/ViewSelectedDocument.asp?DocumentID=11232)

Further, the updated Open Space Strategy, tendered to consultants and supposed to inform the council on (inter alia) playing field requirements, is now around 10 months late on delivery. I understand it has arrived with the council, but appears to be ‘lost in the system’ somewhere.

Joe and his colleagues do what they do in spite of the Tory council, and for that they should be double commended.