IN THE week when the death knell is sounded for Evenwood FC we learn that a play area alongside the football and cricket grounds at Langley Park is to be named after Sir Bobby Robson.

It appears that two similar communities are heading in opposite directions, one prepared to sacrifice its footballing tradition, the other seeking to use its most famous son to inspire this and future generations.

Things are not as simple, however, as in the days when Sir Bobby was a nipper. While he is happy to lend his name to the play area, it must baffle him why it is necessary to include a skate park in the scheme. There is an argument that skateboarding is better than no exercise at all, but it could equally be dismissed as a mindless pursuit with no end product.

In Sir Bobby's day there was only football and cricket, so boys developed whatever playing abilities they had while learning valuable social skills from being part of a team. The playing abilities might serve them for 20 or 30 years, the social skills for a lifetime.

Any anti-social element simply would not have been tolerated, but now those who have vandalised Evenwood FC appear to have triumphed. Red tape which prevented the use of approved grants to repair the damage hasn't helped, but unless anyone can tell me otherwise I take this to be a victory for vandals.

Evenwood are joining forces with another once-proud club reduced to a vandalised shell, but as they will be known as Spennymoor United 2005 and stay at the Brewery Field Evenwood's identity will disappear, even if it's their place in the Northern League which the new club is taking.

THE welfare of sports clubs usually hinges on having sufficient people with the necessary dedication. Evenwood Cricket Club has it, and the excellent community work done by Wolviston and Barnard Castle is paying rich dividends.

Wolviston were honoured by the presence of Sir Garfield Sobers at a Sportsmen's Dinner this week, while Steve Harmison and Graham Thorpe are to visit Barnard Castle next month. The success stories make it all the more galling that other clubs are allowed to die.

ACRES of newsprint and hours of air time were devoted to a goalless FA Cup final in which the inferior team won the post-match lottery, Coronation Street was cancelled because of the Champions League final, yet no television channel could provide coverage of the Lions v Argentina rugby match.

It had the added interest of being Jonny Wilkinson's first international since the World Cup final 18 months ago, but he was apparently one of the few successes.

Jonny is competing with Wales's Stephen Jones for the fly half spot in the first Test on June 25 and could be in pole position by the time Jones and Welsh full back Gareth Thomas arrive from their French club commitments in time for the June 15 match against Wellington, which is expected to be the biggest midweek test.

With Neil Back suspended until then and Jason Robinson delaying his arrival until June 7 because of his wife's illness, Sir Clive Woodward's best-laid plans are already creaking.

The draw against Argentina proves the difficulty of bringing a scratch side together, so with six games before the first Test I expect Sir Clive to field what he feels is his first-choice line-up in each of the three Saturday fixtures.

He may have to tinker with it to accommodate Robinson and Back, but if Jonny starts well he will be in to stay and there will be another outcry in Wales.

THERE will be no sympathy here for Craig Bellamy following Celtic's title-blowing capitulation against mighty Motherwell, nor are there are any tears for ex-Warwickshire cricketer and TV commentator Dermot Reeve in his cocaine addiction.

One of this column's bigger broadsides was aimed at Yorkshire 18 months ago when they were considering a high-ranking post for Reeve. Now he can be seen in his true light, and if you're wondering why he has come out with these career-wrecking confessions it's probably because of a lucrative book deal. Watch out for publication just before Christmas.

THIS is apparently Walk To School Week, and it coincides with the national launch of a scheme called Everyday Sport. A pilot scheme in the North-East last year is said to have changed the lives of 125,000 people, although I must have been away with the fairies at the time as I don't recall hearing about it.

It would be very easy to take the mickey out of all this when those behind it use phrases like "important initiative."

However, Sport England are aiming to double that figure of 125,000 and are backing the campaign with television and radio advertising, so we can all expect to hear of the benefits of everything from skateboarding to hang-gliding.

If it makes us a healthier nation, in mind as well as body, and takes some pressure off the overstretched health service, it is not to be sneezed at. If you're interested you can log on to www.everydaysport.com.