Wanderers star Gudni Bergsson is still one of the club's fittest and consistent players despite reaching the grand old age of 37.

But it seems the defender owes his agility, endurance and stamina to his love of gymnastics.

Bergsson may be able to stay on his feet in a Premiership game, but apparently since his formative years he has been known to take a tumble.

He is just one athlete who has benefited from the discipline of gymnastics, as Gill Waring, who has coached the Icelandic ace, said: "Gudni is very impressive. Gymnastics has given him strength and endurance which he could not have got from any other sport. That helps him to keep going.

"He has done it since he was young and it set him on his way. Gudni and some of the other Wanderers players have also brought their children to us from a young age."

Gill is a member of the Bolton Gymnastics Forum which was set up around six months ago in a bid to fuse talents and ideas from schools, clubs, teachers, parents and coaches.

It is a growing sport and local clubs are hoping to get even more young people involved by encouraging schools to teach it in a more organized way.

She said: "We are trying to get schools to teach it at a low level and then clubs would develop it to a higher level. We are helping to train the teachers to get them more aware of technique.

"It is one of the core, foundation sports which should be promoted in schools. So many children want to get involved but there are not enough places in the clubs in Bolton - we are having to turn people away.

"We like to start people when they are young and build from there. Although different body types can take up the sport, generally male gymnasts must have power, strength and endurance while the girls tend to be petite, fine-boned and flexible.

"It should appeal to everyone if it is taught properly. It can develop self esteem, discipline, balance co-ordination and control."

Ultimately the forum aims to set up a Centre of Excellence for the cream of local talent to attend as currently the best youngsters in the area have to travel to Wigan and Rochdale for training.

But Bolton is developing in the right direction as Regional Development Officer Mike Lockett said: "Things seem to be improving all the time."

Last Friday almost 100 local children between the ages of three and 18-years-old took part in a forum-organized display at Bolton Arena, which also included floor routines by Commonwealth Games gold medalists John Smethurst and Beth Tweddle.