Sheffield's athletics crisis: On your marks, get set, stop - we need urgent action to reopen stadium
I can feel my blood pressure rising again. There isn't medication that can solve this problem and doctors would probably recommend exercise but that's where the problems begin.
The great city of Sheffield is going backwards yet again. On your marks, get set .... stop, complete stop.
A gaping hole has opened in our city the exact size of an athletics track. We lost Don Valley more than a decade ago to save money. The blame for that lies entirely with the city council.
Now Woodbourn Road has been shut by Sheffield Hallam University. Tell me any other city of this size without at least one place to train? It is an utter disgrace and nobody at the Town Hall is saying a word.
My youngest son was showing off the family shot put prowess last week. He clearly didn't inherit that from me ... but I digress. The city wide competition took place at Chaucer School for what I believe is the first time because there is nowhere else.
We do not have a shared outdoor 400-metre track that makes you dream of gold and no sandpit that makes you believe you could jump as far as the Olympics.
In fact, teenagers from across the city were only able to compete against each other in running and certain throwing events. No high jump, no long jump because ... well, we have removed that option. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of PE teachers' staffrooms and athletics meet organisers. It is sad, bad and makes me so mad.
If I had faith in city leaders I would think this is a conspiracy - a very clever way to remove all athletics facilities gradually and get away with it. Death of sport in Sheffield by a thousand cuts.
I have spent many an hour watching basketball at Cannon Medical Arena. The facilities are superb. It took years for the Sharks to raise funds for this much needed facility. There was no city backing but, as you can tell from the name, the building lovingly known as The Tank finally emerged thanks to private investment. Almost as soon as the doors were thrown open, the courts were so much in demand that another similar building would have been a good idea.
Visitors from right across the north have often marvelled at the opportunities created for youngsters by EIS. The pride on their little faces when they turn up there for sports day is second to none. It is joyful to watch tiny tots wobble their way around the track. Inspirational for them ... forever. But it does not cater for a whole city of half a million people.
I'm not buying that we had to get rid of Don Valley Stadium to create an Olympic Legacy Park. To those in power who say we shouldn't look back, bad decisions of the past are exactly the reason why we're in this mess and their choice to ignore it makes it worse.
This city could most certainly support an outdoor athletics stadium and the OLP. I believe the same is true of the Meadowhall vs town, Sheffield vs Doncaster airports ... I could go on. If done properly, one of the country's biggest cities could and should be able to sustain more than one option in virtually anything. Other cities do. The problem is those key words, 'done properly'.
We are big enough, we're just not clever enough.
We all remember the World Cup when a quarter of the squad were born and raised here. But their home city couldn't be bothered to even have a fanzone. Who recalls when Hillsborough was a venue for the 1966 World Cup? That's beyond my memory. And Euro 96? Beyond what our children can recall or aspire to.
The city has also fallen down the pecking order for the vast majority of national events. More modern venues have been built elsewhere. Here, we just close them.
Unforgivable time and time again. Just recently Mayor Oliver Coppard backed a call for a Northern Olympics. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It is time to take action much closer to home.
So I went to collect my youngest from Parson Cross with a heavy heart. I am so overwhelmingly glad that the organisers of these competitions fight on, regardless, to make sure our children don't miss out. But are we, are they, supposed to watch our facilities disappear and just shrug?
It shows a disgusting disregard for our children's futures. It also creates yet another gulf between the haves and have nots - talent alone has never been enough.
Tragically, it was also all entirely predictable. This city has sat back and watched it happen. It would be far worse if it wasn't for the unwavering determination of people like Richard Caborn, the volunteers behind every grassroot club and the pure sporting passion of the people who live here. Sparks of brilliance in a place that lets them down time and time again.
Shouldn't we be furious when we're squelching at the side of pathetically waterlogged football pitches in the birthplace of the beautiful game? Can't the city that nurtured Jess Ennis to become one of the world’s most successful athletes, offer the same opportunity to others? The race against killer obesity is on and we are no longer even on the starting blocks.
Sheffield City Council said: “We recognise the strength of feeling within the athletics community regarding the current situation at Woodbourn Road and the impact this has had on athletes, clubs, schools and families across the city.
We are actively working with Sheffield Hallam University and wider partners to reopen the track as soon as possible, while also developing a sustainable long-term future for athletics provision in the city. We welcome the passion and commitment shown by local athletes, clubs and residents, and we are engaging constructively with those who want to help secure a positive future for athletics in Sheffield.
While some discussions remain commercially confidential, our focus is on supporting Sheffield’s athletics community and ensuring the city continues to provide opportunities for participation, development and competition in the future.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “We’re putting ourselves forward to be at the forefront of a Northern Olympic bid because of the investment that would demand, in sporting facilities, transport infrastructure and much more besides.
“Nowhere is that need more evident than when it comes to athletics facilities across Sheffield.
“People are right to be deeply frustrated with the situation at Woodburn Road, and I will of course continue to press for a solution to those problems, so the next generation of athletes have the facilities they deserve in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.”