Right at the end of Labour’s Conference, in a special interview by Mariella Frostrup before all delegates, Prime Minister Gordon Brown gave a three word quote which our sporting members might well wish to remember - and which might just be relevant to ISPAL’s campaigning on behalf of young people.

The PM was asked what he did when he was young.

He replied simply: “I played sports”. If it was good enough for our PM’s education and leisure time, then it should be right for millions of youngsters growing up today! But do they have the facilities, the opportunities, the coaching support…?

Does this quote mean that, after the hard stand so often taken by Chancellor Brown against funding for sport, we now have an ear ready to listen?

The tests will soon come - over 2012 Olympic legacy, over sports governing body funding, over the replacement of old leisure centre facilities….