IF YOU were looking towards this columnist to give you some festive cheer – forget it because the very fabric of our local football system is in danger of collapse.

You see it’s not only the credit crunch during this harsh financial crisis which is threatening the very existence of our local MacWhirter Welsh League clubs – but also a massive lack of officials.

While there is the odd club boasting a healthy-sized committee, in general most don’t and even then you’re lucky to find anyone under the age of 40, with most of the volunteers 50 and/or 60 plus.

There are a few clubs being run only by two or three older guys, who really should by now be able to just turn up and watch their local club instead of being hard at work as early as 9am preparing matters for home games.

You only have to walk into any one of the 13 Gwent-based MWL clubs to realise that, like it or not, time is fast running out for them and that unless some fresh blood can be pumped into them – the off-the-field future is indeed very bleak.

It would appear that the problem has been generated by retired players these days seeming to be extremely reluctant to put anything back into the game they all claim they ‘love.’ Well if this is ‘love’ – walking away without a thought for the future of clubs which have bend over backwards over their careers to provide both playing and social facilities despite not having two pennies to rub together – then I sure wouldn’t want to see their take on the word hate!

Hey, no-one is press-ganging anyone into doing anything they don’t want to – but when I spoke to one former player recently and he told me, “I’d rather go shopping with the wife than help out at my local club.”

With that attitude, we’re doomed – but at least the fairer sex is doing its bit with no less than three local MWL clubs having women in prominent positions.

Carolynn Purcell is chairman of Cwmbran Town while Rachel Czajkowski and Jane Deans are secretary of Caldicot Town and Caerleon respectively.

And, of course, there are other ladies who are also serving committee members or who have other crucial behind-the-scenes tasks to fulfil.

So come on you guys, forget about putting your feet up in front of the telly or accompanying ‘er indoors to the shops on match days – you local club needs you!

* I’ll finish off this last diary of 2008 by wishing all of our local clubs a very prosperous New Year – and hope that things get better on the field.

Caldicot have slipped from the top of the MWL Division One table to 12th of 18 while currently the entire bottom four is occupied by Gwent clubs – Caerleon, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran and Newport YMCA – although three – Llanwern, Tredegar Town and Cwmbran Celtic – are either in on are on the fringe of the Division Two promotion race.

In Division Three, Monmouth Town still have much to do to steer themselves clear of the relegation zone.

In the words of the song, ‘things can only get better.’ Merry Christmas – bah humbug!!