Sports clubs have urged funders to continue to back them so they can build on the success of the Great Britain’s Olympians.

Team GB’s success at the Olympic Games is expected to encourage millions to become involved in sport.

Andrew Willis gives it his all in Olympic breaststroke final

But clubs across Bracknell Forest have warned they first need the financial backing to attract potential sports men and women to then turn them into stars of the future.

Simon Walker, of Bracknell Athletics Club, said funding was important for the future of British athletics and needed to equip clubs with more coaches, as they look to raise the next generation of athletics stars.

He added: “The key is putting money into the grass roots.

“It’s all right funding elite athletes but you need to underpin the bottom of the tree.

“To continue the success there needs to be a commitment from parents and children.

“And there need to be the coaches to train people who come through too.”

Les Stevens, head coach at Pinewood Starr Boxing Club, Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne, said future boxing success at the Olympics would be down to the amount of funding boxers receive.

He said: “The Olympics have shown what a difference funding can make. If you are paid to box, you can put your heart and soul into it and stay fully focussed.

“You won’t have anything else to worry about.”

Pinewood Gymnastics Club hired a club development manager two years ago who has been successful in finding funding for equipment.

However, Ross Falsetta, performance director, at the club which has 1,300 members, said individual funding was a different matter.

He said: “The fact is it is very difficult for individuals to get funding so they can chase their dreams.

“Our squad members have to fund their own trips to national and international competitions.

“We helped our best artistic boy move to a gym near Heathrow where he could get a bit of funding.

“It is very tough to try to find some sort of subsidy.”

Meanwhile, Dr Peter Tranckle, the club manager at Bracknell Gymnastics Club said the Olympics should not just inspire children to become involved in sport.

He said: “It must inspire the older generation as well.

“It’s for those who make the decisions – councils and councillors – to make the space and provision available to allow newcomers to take up a sport.

“The Olympics has been great for young people and I hope it raises the profile of sport in the area.

“Time will tell if it does inspire a generation.”

Other sports clubs have noted a small increase in interest, although claimed it was too early to see if the Olympics had lived up to its motto.

Libby Mound from Bracknell Hockey Club, which is holding an open day on September 1, added: “The sessions have picked up and there has been a lot more interest.”

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