A FORMER Boro player and World Cup soccer star returned to his roots encourage more youngsters to take part in sport.
Former Northern Ireland international Jim Platt made 482 appearances for Middlesbrough Football Club and was North-East Player of the Year in 1982.
He was at the University of Teesside yesterday for a conference and a series of workshops, organised for 120 children, aged between 14 and 16.
The Top Link Festival Conference was organised by the university and the Youth Sport Trust and was opened by Mr Platt and Liz Barnes, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Law.
Martin Pout, senior lecturer in sport and exercise, said: "Top Link is a leadership programme that has been developed by the Youth Sport Trust.
"It enables young people to develop leadership skills by planning and organising festivals of sport or dance for their local primary and special schools. The university is delighted to be part of the programme in helping to develop a new generation of sports leaders."
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