AS England's sporting heroes do the nation proud, one of our earlier World Cup winners chose the opening of a new sports club to tell the region's youngsters to get off their backsides to emulate them.

Former Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Ireland manager Jack Charlton made his rallying cry to the sports legends of the future as he opened the £700,000 Saltburn Cricket, Bowls and Tennis Club, in East Cleveland.

The facilities at Saltburn, near Redcar, are now thought to rival similar clubs at Headingley and Lords.

A new sports hall for community and club use sits alongside tennis and bowls pavilions and an extended clubhouse with new changing rooms.

Jack, who tried his hand at tennis and bowling while he was there, said he hoped the club would persuade youngsters to dust off their sports gear.

He said: "It's brilliant that east Cleveland has now got this world class facility.

"I hope to goodness that it will drag kids away from watching the stars on TV and get them playing sport instead of watching it."

As he toured the project, which was made possible with a £547,000 award from Sport England, he also reflected on England and Ireland's chances at the World Cup.

He said: "I was really nervous after the Sweden game because I thought we didn't get it right.

"But we approached the Argentina game with the right attitude and I think England can go on from there. We've still got quite a hurdle in Nigeria though."

He described Ireland's dramatic run in the tournament as very exciting.