Amazed by Lottery sum

Your article about the YMCA getting a Lottery grant amazes me.

I am secretary of one of Sandwell's biggest football clubs, Bustleholme FC. We have a compliment of 250 players plus helpers, coaches etc.

Twelve years ago we were awarded £15,000 by the Lottery to refit the local children's play centre and make first-class dressing rooms. We thought we were very lucky and were very grateful.

Since then, the stories that have come from the many Lottery grants have amazed many people. This one for the YMCA just amazes me. Who on earth gives the OK to these incredible grants? While I commend the YMCA for the work they do, the reason for handing out this type of money for such ludicrous projects belies reason.

Our club at this moment has an arrangement with Menzies High School in Wednesbury to develop the school into a top grade sporting facility. This has been going on for three years and our main problem is finance. Our aim, along with Menzies, is to keep young people fit by getting them involved with sport. I wish we could get a third of a million pounds to push things along.

There are many sporting youth clubs like ourselves but apart from the very few, we pride ourselves in being a club that has progressed from one Under-12 team in 1975 to the present 18 teams from Under-7 to Open-age quality teams. We are not a "fly-by-night set-up" who come and go.

I entirely agree with Bill Archer – why do the Lottery people hand out amounts like this when numerous organisations who keep young people fit cannot get their just rewards.

Dave Martin, Hon Secretary, Bustleholme FC.