It was interesting to read that Balzan Youths have appointed Maria Coppola as a member of the nursery coaching staff.

It is appropriate to have women involved with young children though in the long run they might as well be involved with older kids.

The news item brought memories of what the late Allen Wade had told me during his early days as Director of Coaching at the Football Association in Lancaster Gate, London, many decades ago.

He knew that as there were more women than men employed as teachers in primary schools, they could be very useful to promote the game of football if they were actually prepared to teach football in junior schools. He was then working on a project to encourage these female teachers to attend specially prepared football coaching courses so that they would eventually be qualified to football to schoolchildren during their ‘sport lessons’.

It proved to be a very practical idea.

Here’s wishing Balzan Youths and Ms Coppola all the successes they deserve and let’s hope other clubs think of engaging qualified ladies for their nurseries.

TONY FORMOSA

Pieta’