THE election of Deputies is over which means that this article will have no effect on the outcome in any district or parish.

So, as an introduction, let me explain that I write it with a sense of sadness: not about the elections themselves but because of some of the issues (or lack of them) that the candidates – all 63 of them – included in their manifestoes. Just over a week ago the JEP published a 40-page pull-out in which the candidates, standing for 25 seats, were invited to talk about themselves, their policies and the future of this Island.

Over the course of one long afternoon I read every word they had written and, in hindsight, I wished I hadn’t, partly because the one word which kept leaping from the page was the first person pronoun, ‘I’. However, this is a sporting column, not a political one, so what interest could I possibly have in the thoughts and intentions of would-be politicians?

Well, it was simply to find out where sport featured in their vision for the future. Let me explain: for a long time now I have been trying to persuade the Island that we ignore the importance of sport in our community at peril. Financially, it must bring more money into the Island than agriculture.

Socially, it helps keep our kids off the streets, which is why I applaud the continuing Les Quennevais evening football league, which is free of charge, and Kyran Bracken’s plan to offer free ice skating for school children at Christmas in St Helier.

If kids are playing football at Les Quennevais they aren’t likely to be damaging property, which is one of the reasons why I ‘tut-tutted’ when I read that one would-be Deputy in St Brelade believed that more Honorary officers and better lighting was the solution to vandalism in the parish. Part solution, maybe – but surely the real solution is to give the kids something to do.

However, six days after spending an enjoyable lunch at the Rugby Club, during which time I was told that the club has to raise in excess of £125,000 a season, just to organise fixtures for the junior teams (money that goes into the Island economy and wouldn’t be there, if the rugby club didn’t exist!), I wonder where DO our politically conscious neighbours place sport, in terms of the Island’s future?

What follows is a list of the only comments the 63 candidates made (out of over 50,000 words in the JEP supplement) to do with sport.

‘Fort Regent: The old swimming pool should be converted to a hotel, conference and leisure facility . . . (As for) sports led-tourism; more emphasis and encouragement is essential to the future of this type of tourism. Our sporting facilities and organisations are excellent and should be used more fully.’

‘Why does Fort Regent swimming pool lie derelict 35 years after construction and (why is) the Fort a ghostly barn?’

‘St Helier policies should include more facilities for youth (including) skate boarding.’

‘(There should be) funding for the Town Park and Fort Regent’ (the same comment repeated by two candidates).

‘I do think better use can be made of Fort Regent and Springfield Stadium.’ (but what?)

‘Invest in our youth: they must be able to find employment locally and have access to well funded sports’ and social facilities.’

‘My propositions to the States Supporting the District (have included) a skateboarding park on the New North Quay (which) is currently being built and is on target for an opening date in mid-December 2008.’

‘I believe there is a future for much more sporting tourism, and that we must take advantage of the opportunities presented by the 2012 Olympics.’

‘I’d like to see private enterprise fund and operate exciting new amenities so that the Fort would once again be a place for young and old to socialise.’

The above is the total comment from all 63 candidates relating to one of the growth areas in tourism (and arguably the most potent way of keeping the Island’s youth busy, happy and off the streets): ie sport.

Now can you understand why I was so depressed after I’d finished my marathon readathon? Only one candidate mentioned how the Island could use the Island’s facilities to attract athletes (and therefore money) before and during the 2012 Olympic Games to be held only an hour’s flight away in London.

Only one sport was mentioned – skateboarding. Only two sporting venues were mentioned: Fort Regent and Springfield, although one candidate wanted to turn the Fort into a large hotel and two others simply said: ‘something must be done’. A fourth said ‘better use must be made of Springfield’ – although what he determined to be ‘better use’ we were never told.

No mention at all was made about how much money sport currently raises for the Island, let alone how much more money sport could generate in years to come.

Before finishing this initial, rather bleak comment piece, I’d just like to mention a conversation I had during the summer with up to a dozen Islanders, all in their 20s.

They were reminiscing about their days as kids, when of a rainy Saturday or Sunday they would be taken to the Fort where they could go for a swim or a play in the water with ‘Humfrey’; go on the Ferris wheel or the dodgems; go in the space simulator or simply play in one of several play areas, including Jungle Jim’s.

They remembered that time with affection, as will many parents who were grateful of somewhere to take their kids on a rainy afternoon.

But times, as they say, have changed. So let’s build a hotel up there and, as for the naughty kids? Change the laws, so that we can punish them properly.

Capello leading his own personal respect campaign
Fabio Capello’s record as England manager currently stands as eight wins from ten matches, including four out of four in his bid for qualification for the next World Cup.

I believe that England will qualify. However, what makes him so special when other managers have fallen by the way? Perhaps a clue lies in one tiny word in the following quote from goalkeeper David James: ‘We were underachieving before Mr Capello came in, but he’s got us playing. People could have expected us to get turned over against Germany, but the players are not surprised we have done well.’ So what is that one little word? – It is simply ‘Mr’.

For in the past I am certain that England players and those from other clubs have been pally enough to call their managers by their first name. ‘Steve’ for example or ‘Kevin’.

Yet it is amazing how just one little word can define the difference between respect and familiarity. I was reminded of this just over a week ago when a woman I taught over 30 years ago phoned me to ask me a favour. ‘Mr Lake,’ she began. ‘Call me Chris,’ I said. She tried to, but her words came out as ‘Mr Chris.’ She tried again . . . ‘No, I can’t do it,’ she said.

Now there is no chance of my ever managing the England football team. However, in the same way that my ex-pupil automatically placed herself in the role of student and me in the role of teacher, so James would never dream of calling Mr Capello ‘Fabio’.

The relationship they have is so obviously one of ‘boss’ and ‘player’. Twenty years from now James will probably still call him ‘Mr Capello’, partly out of respect, partly out of fear, because at the current moment Capello obviously expects it of his players.

In class I remember one teacher who did try to get his students to call him by his first name. The experiment lasted no longer than a week because the teacher began to lose class discipline and some of his students saw this as a means of crossing the thin red line between authority and familiarity. And, as the old saying goes, ‘familiarity breeds contempt’.

If I was a player in the England team, I wouldn’t call the manager ‘Flavio’. If I did, I would be fearful of the backlash and the wrath that might follow – you only had to see that potential in his scowling face as England were directed, pitchside, by Mr Capello during their 2-1 win over Germany. For as a fellow commentator said in a national newspaper last week: ‘Sometimes he has plenty to say, sometimes he just fixes his players with an icy glare.’

I like the England manager’s methods. It reminds me of being back at school again.

Youth will have its days . . .
Finally: The Jersey under-21 Muratti side, featuring six players aged 18 and under and the youngest Ambassadeur Bowl team yet to represent the Island might have lost 3-2 to Guernsey on Saturday, but when I heard how close they had come to winning the trophy and what a thrilling encounter it turned out to be, I had to rethink completely part of this week’s column.

I thought that even with home advantage their youth would be against them.
Not a bit of it; and if the game had ended five minutes earlier without going into extra time, they would have won 2-1. I was delighted for you lads, and there’s no shame in losing – particularly as most of you have another three years (unlike the Guernsey players) to plot your revenge.