Children protest after committed coach Mike Jackson loses job after 30 years’ service

Published: 5th May, 2011
by TOM FOOT

SPORTING stars of the future yesterday (Wednesday) led a protest in support of a popular coach outside the centre where he worked in Kentish Town.

Mike Jackson, who was sacked after almost 30 years’ loyal service, was described as “down to earth” and “inspiring” by the children he devoted his life too.

Sports development officer Mr Jackson, basketball ace Juan Escobar and youth football league supremo Will Cave, have fallen victim to a pre-Olympic restructuring of Camden’s sports triggered by funding cuts.

Some of those Mr Jackson has coached have gone on to become top long-distance runners and won medals at national level that they dedicated to the 51-year-old sports expert. Greg Rollo-Walker, 14, who was aquathlon champion in the 2010 London Youth Games, said: “I didn’t know what I was doing until I met Mike.”

The protesting youngsters outside Talacre sports centre, aged 7 to 18, told the New Journal how Mr Jackson:

• trained them for mini marathons despite a recent knee operation.
• lent one boy his own bike so he could take up the triathlon.
• regularly turned up to events he had nothing to do with simply to support the children he worked with.

Camden School for Girls head of Year 10 Una Doyle added: “It is terrible – I know what sport does for children, it keeps them motivated and engaged.”

A Town Hall spokesman said four sports development officers had kept their jobs and that the council was committed to increasing sports participation.