WHEN the Spar Mid Wales League became a two tier set-up last season it represented the biggest shake-up for football in this region since the advent of the Welsh Premier in 1992.
I, like many, hoped not only would this create a higher standard for Mid Wales footballers, but also would signal the start of a domino effect which would see big changes to the way football is run in this area.
However 12 months on and it would seem that rather than using the success of the Spar Mid Wales League as a springboard for greater change the footballing revolution has stalled.
It was hoped 2012 would see the start of a new reserve league for the region. A lack of support scuppered that one.
Meanwhile the Mid Wales Youth League continues to struggle for members while junior football in this region has also been hit by dwindling membership.
The most frustrating element of this whole saga is that by by curing one you would cure all.
In an ideal world clubs would be rewarded for having a junior section. For example if a club runs junior sides from under 12 (first competitive age grade) to under 16 they should be eligible for grants from the Central Wales FA. Clubs which do not should not be able too. Simple.
People often wonder what exactly the Central Wales FA does for football in this region and perhaps this would be the best way for the association to validate its standing in the modern era.
In turn we would see a rapid increase in the number of junior sides in the area which would obviously mean that children would remain involved in the game for much longer.
Imagine the situation where a young lad of 12 can start up playing for his village side and stay on the books through 13, 14, 15 and 16 and into youth and then senior football. An actual working pathway.
At the moment we live in a world where these players are lost to the game but is this because of a lack of committment or is it down to a poor structure at club and leaguie level? Having lived in Mid Wales for 30 years I know there is little to entertain youngsters growing up so I would say the latter.
If this was indeed the case then we would once again have a strong and competitive youth league which we have not had in Central Wales since the 1980s.
It would also mean that the clubs who are allowed to play their youth leagues in Herefordshire at the moment (Llandrindod Wells and Presteigne) would have a decent standard in their own county to compete in.
And finally this would mean more players and thus more clubs to form a reserve league. The benefits of a good reserve league are blatant. A better standard for players and less of a bridge to first team standard.
We all win.
However the only way this is achievable is if the Central Wales FA finally shows what it actually does and puts forward some kind of strategy and funding into grassroots football.
Grassroots is such a general term but for me the Central Wales FA pockets enough money each year from the Welsh FA and player fines to be able to fund under 16-12 football and youth and reserve football.
It will be a five, possibly even 10-15 year strategy but the benefits to Mid Wales football would be revolutionary.