I have a small display of old Worksop Town football programmes in my office. Historic cup ties such as at Swindon in 1955 and Workington in 1961. No big deal, but are items of curiosity for visitors to my office. I do so because this town’s football club is part of our heritage.

But it is more than that. It is an important part of many people’s lives and its youth structure is a part of our future. Our history cannot be obliterated in that we are fortunate to have the world’s fourth oldest team. The club has had its ups and downs. But anyone looking at its youth structures knows that the potential for the future is huge and largely untapped.

Towns of a similar size have won in Europe, such as Ipswich and have won cups and championships galore, from Kilmarnock to Carlisle, from Exeter to Accrington. And as keen followers of the game know, both Accrington and Exeter have both come back from the dead. Indeed, Accrington are back in the football league and just this week Exeter have rejoined them in Division Two.

My vision for football is this: every under 16 junior team having a permanent home base, with qualified coaches and changing rooms with ideally some kind of club house to raise money. Above this a Worksop Town led structure for 16-19 year olds developing talent and leading players into the adult game. The cream of the crop might play for Worksop or our local competition. Some like Mick Jones and Ian Bennett will go all the way to the top of the professional game.

In my view only one team should have Sandy Lane as its home base and that team is Worksop town. It would be an outrage for the Tigers to be barred from playing on their home ground. I will attend the public meeting called next week and I appeal for unity from all Worksop Town supporters. We need one voice and one vision and that has to be of a thriving football team underpinned by a thriving junior set up.

I also call for all community and business leaders to stand up and be counted on this one.  I promise the people of Worksop this: I will. Will you?

It is with some astonishment that I read the quotes from Council Leader Quigley about how two long deceased Worksop residents have contributed nothing to society. How does he know? Cllr Quigley did not even live in Bassetlaw when they were around. He never met nor knew them. What kind of man is it who can speak ill of the dead in such a shocking way?