Athletics
Right back to the days of Jim Alder and beyond, athletics has had its roots embedded in the sporting heritage of the North East. A region of passionate people who have embraced the sport at all levels but are well known for creating champions. Mick McLeod, Brendan Foster, Charlie Spedding, Steve Cram, Kirsty Wade, Jill Hunter, David Sharpe, Jonathan Edwards, Tanni Grey Thompson and right up to date with Stephen Miller and Chris Tomlinson. Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European Champions and World Record Holders have found the region a fantastic place to develop and showcase their athletic talent.
The tradition of track and field athletics in the North East is borne out of the passion and desire of the people who are the life blood of the sport, coaches, volunteers, officials and administrators, a team of people who are responsible for attracting youngsters into athletics. Teaching, nurturing, coaching and developing talent is exactly what is required and examples such as Jimmy Hedley and Stan Long showed how successful that coach-athlete relationship could be, by working with Steve Cram and Brendan Foster respectively throughout their successful careers.
Encouraging youngsters into the sport of athletics is only possible with an army of volunteers strengthening the club system, helping to nurture and educate our young athletes to develop their potential, providing an outlet where children can experience the fun and enjoyment athletics offers, outside the school system. Officials, Coaches and Volunteers are the lifeblood of the sport. Their many hours of unpaid work allow competitions to take place, helps develop and improve talented youngsters but perhaps most importantly provides the tangible support structures that enable the clubs to exist and thrive.
The sport delivers so much on all levels, from personal achievement and fulfilment to out and out enjoyment and friendship building. As well as encouraging more youngsters to enter into the sport it's essential we find ways to increase the level of recruitment of coaches, volunteers and officials helping to fulfil the dreams of many youngsters in the region and who knows one day, may help to revitalise athletics here in the North East and find the next Foster, Cram or Wade.
If you're enthusiastic and committed to sport then becoming an assistant coach, a coach or an official is something you should think about doing - and you'll get training and qualifications as well as the chance to make a real difference to young people and sport in your area.
