ANYBODY who follows the BBDFL will know we have been working on a variety of initiatives.

We have had futsal competitions, discussed and delivered a summer programme, under-21s, currently working on a girls' football league, a new futsal league, extending the U21s provision, offered coach and referee education courses, attained charitable status and the most topical seeking to move our U7s to U14s to a March-October season instead of the usual September-May dates.

The criticism from some quarters has been immense.

The criteria we have had to apply to our requests has been challenging and the pressure on individual members of the committee has been huge.

So why bother? Why not do as many leagues have done for many years and stick with a status quo and have an easy life?

If the BBDFL had that outlook it would still be called the Bolton, Bury and District Mini Soccer League providing football for around 150 teams and 1,500 players from U7s to U10s.

Just think for a second about 10,000 young people being coached and then playing their sport that weekend at least once a week and you start to get an understanding of the drive for the BBDFL committee.

Those 10,000 individuals will keep fit while learning really important life skills, making new friends and gaining abilities through participation in association football.

Some may make it as a professional, but the vast majority will 'just' make it as a wonderful contributor to the community in this area.

The area will benefit from their endeavours in the future and, as such, we ask you all to embrace the work of all the sport, arts and recreation providers.

Why do I say 10,000? Well if our current plans come to fruition that's the number of competitors who will be playing every week in the BBDFL.

So going back to my first question about why we bother.

We bother because the game is worth it, the community is worth it but more importantly the players are worth it.