SIX local sporting celebrities have added their signatures to a broadside aimed at St Helens council, regarding their school sports policy.

The letter, forwarded to the town's director of education, criticises "the lack of competition and interest" at classroom level and cites this as contributing to the decline in Britain's sporting fortunes.

It alleges: "It is a dereliction of the local council's duty not to nurture the talents of our kids ..."

The letter has been forwarded by former Leicester City striker Eric Littler, from Billinge (himself a former St Helens Labour councillor) who attached the back-up signatures of Danny Wilson (manager of Bristol City), Gerry Houlton (ex-Lancashire county cricketer), John Todder Dickinson (former Saints favourite), Tommy Finn (ex Saints and Hull RL club) and Colin Greenall, recent Wigan Athletic ace and now coach.

The full text of the letter (a copy of which was forwarded to the Star) reads as follows:

'WE, the undersigned, have been concerned for some considerable time about the state of British Sport. Particularly the lack of success in the international field and the serious decline in quality of our leading players at Cricket, soccer and rugby league. Albeit that there has been some success at the recent Olympics and the Test Series.

In our opinion it is the lack of competition and interest at school level that is the major cause of the situation. In the past, such great names as Alex Murphy, Ray French, Billy Foulkes, Michael Owen and many others achieved their ambition to have performed at the highest level and have emerged from school involvement.

It is a sad reflection of the education policy that little or no interest is shown in these pastimes, that can enable youngsters to achieve a high standard of living, when you consider the monetary rewards that are available.

Sport and competition is the one great influence in character building, and should be a major subject in the curriculum and not just a mere sideline. It is a dereliction of the local council's duty not to nurture the talents of our kids and also not to include, in school budgets, finances to supply the resources.

We were astounded to hear that no such source of funding is included in school budgets.

We can remember the great days of school competition in the late 1940's and 50's when people like Alex Murphy, Ray French, Dickinson and Finn emerged from school competitions; when rivalry between Parr Central, Rivington Road and St Austin's was as intense as the rivalry between Liverpool and Everton.

It also concerns us that games like soccer, cricket and rugby league are being diluted to satisfy the whims of our politicians. When administrators of the Football Association and the England Cricket Board do not advocate such major differences in which the games are played. The only condition that we agree with is that helmets be worn when playing cricket.

It is hoped that the Education Authority takes heed of our concern and makes major changes in their attitude towards sport and competition.'