WITH the postponement of so many recent games I took the opportunity to drive up to Norfolk, to visit my parents, and I also found the time to reflect on some comments made to me just before I went.

The persons making the comments were expressing their views that the senior and youth parts of Okehampton Argyle Football Club were not that close together. At the time I turned away the idea as I honestly believe us to be one club although we have our own finance. However, I had to look deeper before I realised where others' misconceptions may arise and it was my trip to Norfolk that opened my eyes.

My parents live in what used to be a small market town ten miles south of Norwich, on the main A11 trunk road. Whilst there I spotted a large development, right next to the main road but not far away from the town. My stepfather, an ex-sportsman himself, proudly informed me that this was the third sports and recreation centre to be built in the town in recent years.

Given the growth of the town, it had become a much needed facility as the others could not cater for the influx of families to the area. It seemed almost every club and society had given some input to the conception and birth of such facilities and, therefore, almost every inhabitant had taken an interest.

The more I thought of the growth of Wymondham, the more comparisons I could draw with Okehampton. One does not have to walk far, in recent years, to see how much development has gone on in our own town with the potential for more to come. With the influx of new families, our local facilities are being outstripped in terms of the number of people wishing to use them.

This does not only affect the football club but given our overall size and growth capacity, we are likely to be affected if we are in direct competition with other clubs and societies. Therefore, it is apparent we need to work closer as a whole club with agreed joint objectives.

It is not only the growth of the club that concerns me but the development of players and how we handle that aspect within the club. Talking to one of the senior players and his family brought home to me the fact that very few of the youth players attend home games when free on a Saturday afternoon.

Is there a way we can develop more interaction between youth and adults within the club?

The first person I rang was Paul Adams (Okehampton Argyle first team manager) and he jumped at the chance of to help. As a consequence, we will be developing a programme where more senior players take the occasional training session with each youth team and encourage closer ties.

The kids will undoubtedly benefit from the experience of their older colleagues, some will surely be encouraged to attend senior matches and the adults will gain an insight to the deeper workings of the club.

Of course we can't make the adults take part but I do ask for every player to join in and help. Your participation will help keep the lifeblood of the club flowing and will further the development of the whole club. After all, we are one club.

John Pearce

Okehampton Argyle Youth chairman