Lack of coaches and track damage leave athletics club struggling
The club says it cannot cope with interest in the sport after the European Athletics Championships.
Colin Thompson, chairman of the Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club, is struggling to cope with the renewed interest in athletics sparked by the recent European Championships. While the club's summer camp was well-attended, the influx of new participants is proving challenging due to a lack of coaches and deteriorating track conditions. Thompson explained that the club has lost four coaches in the past year, making it difficult to accommodate the increased demand.
The club's track is suffering from plant life growing underneath the velodrome, which is part of the cycle track surrounding the athletics track. Removing these roots is not a simple task and requires significant effort to resurface the track. Thompson emphasized that many clubs are facing similar issues, as they lack the necessary infrastructure to support the growing interest in the sport.
While Thompson did not criticize the local council for not investing enough in grassroots sports, he acknowledged that local authorities are facing budget constraints. He suggested that councils prioritize spending on the most critical areas, as maintaining sports facilities is extremely costly. Despite these challenges, Thompson remains optimistic about the future of athletics in the region.
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