Could you spot a star?

Imagine Arsenal without Arsene Wenger or Eddie Irvine minus his highly-trained team of mechanics when he pulls into the pits and you can visualise the future which could be facing Southend Athletic Club.

For, while the sport of athletics moves towards the new Millennium with renewed enthusiasm thanks to the off the track efforts of men such as ex Olympic star David Moorcroft, our local athletes desperately need more coaches.

No, they're not short of transport to ferry them around to the countless meetings they compete in at various venues which this season have ranged from North Devon to Newark . . .

What our future Fatima Whitbreads and Iwan Thomass are sorely lacking are those with the expertise to know whether their protgs are on the right track to lowering those precious personal best times or throwing that shot just a vital few centimetres further.

Only five years ago, athletics in Southend was in the doldrums with outdated, and in some cases downright dangerous, facilities at Southchurch Park hardly the right background for encouraging youngsters to take up a sport which, apart from the competition level, offers a fantastic social side.

All that changed when superb new headquarters were built at the sparkling Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre, which offers track and field facilities to be proud of - even if the current lack of a spectator stand makes it an unlikely venue for big-time meetings.

The current revival of track and field in this part of the world owes much to the endeavours of our local schools, where the likes of the two Southend Highs and Rayleigh's FitzWimarc put athletics very high on the sporting timetable.

The Southend High junior girls recently tasted glory on the national schools scene and number among their PE staff Mary Green, who herself competed at Olympic level some 31 years ago.

Most of the current crop of young and not so young will never reach that status, but many have the enthusiasm and capability to enjoy careers at varying levels - with the right support.

Says enthusiastic secretary Sue Weaver: "We have a thriving active membership at all age levels and it's increasing all the time - but we badly need more coaches.

"Because the coaching numbers are fairly small it's a tremendous blow when we lose one of our team such as John Roberts, a long-serving official who took charge of the training of a number of our promising teenage girls, who recently had to move up north. It's been a major blow.

"If there are any qualified coaches out there who are no longer involved in the sport we'd love to hear from them. However, more realistically , we'd love parents or anyone else who would like to come along and meet us all and find out what coaching is all about. They would be welcomed with open arms.

"You certainly don't have to have been a top athlete yourself to take up coaching. John Roberts had never been, but he was a wonderful coach who enjoyed a wonderful relationship with his athletes who had the utmost respect for him."

The Millennium marks the 95th anniversary of Southend Athletic Club and they have made their mark with a host of star names over the years. Current youngsters are boosted by internationals such as sprinter Sarah Wilhelmy and pole vaulter Steven Brown having broken through from the grass roots at their club to hit the top.

Current Southend trailblazers are the men's team who have swept aside all opposition with gusto on their way to promotion in the Southern League.

If you'd like to be part of Southend Athletics Club's future, phone Sue Weaver on 01702 313473.

Club facts

Southend Athletic Club caters for track and field, cross-country running, road running, race walking and sports hall athletics.

Minimum age is 10 years by August 31 in the year of joining. There is no upper age limit.

Entrance fee is £5 and annual subscriptions are £30 for under-20s, over 60s, officials and coaches rising to £40 for first or second claim seniors. There are family memberships available for £70 while social members, who cannot use track facilities, are charged £15.

Newcomers can come to training free of charge for their first session and then for £1 per night for the next two weeks while they decide if athletics is for them.

Winter weekend cross-country training, when athletes are not competing, is at Belfairs Park and Hockley Woods.

During the summer, competition takes place in the Southern Women's and Men's Leagues, the Eastern Young Athletes League (for boys and girls) and MacDonald's League for boys. There is an Eastern Veterans League for more senior competitors.

Coach Peter Winch keeps a watchful eye on top 14-year-old prospect Sandip Brar

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.