THE VOLUNTEERS who ensure our junior football, rugby and other sports clubs keep going are genuine unsung heroes.

Even in the darkest depths of winter, when wind, sleet and rain are driving most of us into the comfort of our homes, they ensure the training and games for our children and young people continue - whenever they possibly can.

Of course sometimes, especially at this time of year, many clubs who don’t have the luxury of drained pitches do have to abandon their plans due to flooding or snow.

Those occasions are unfortunate but to be endured, as they are out of anyone’s hands.

The same cannot be said, unfortunately, for the disgraceful damage that was done to Weston Lane Junior Sports and Social Club’s grounds in Otley.

At least one driver decided, for whatever idiotic reason, to abandon the road and go for a ‘spin’ on the club’s already waterlogged training area.

The result was predictably disastrous, with the vehicle badly cutting up the soft ground, creating deep ruts and tyre tracks, before getting stuck.

The police are yet to find the driver of the offending vehicle, or the car itself, but we sincerely hope they do.

And when he or she is in custody, we hope they get the chance to meet Weston Lane Juniors’ coach and young players - and try to explain to them what on earth they were thinking.