I don't always like to get too involved in politics even though I do coach the Parliamentary football team.

That's definitely the case at local level, where the job is hard enough trying to please everyone, with outsiders not always knowing the full story.

However, just over a week ago I got an urgent call from the office in London of the Special Olympics Great Britain, of which I am chairman.

They said they had had a call for help from people in Southampton (right) who look after the amateur gymnastics club, which includes youngsters with learning disabilities who have competed in the Special Olympics.

I was given a number to ring and agreed straight away to go down that same night to the hall, which is by St Mary's Church, opposite the City college.

There are actually about 700 members of all ages and they cover a wide range of activities from six-months-old would you believe doing baby gym tumble tots and gym bobs with special needs from recreational up to elite.

The children are encouraged to reach their full potential in gymnastics but also learn self-discipline, social skills and consideration for others, as well as keeping fit and being healthy.

The club was founded 33 years ago and has won many national competitions and produced British champions.

A great example of what actually takes place was a youngster who came up to me on the night called Ashton Hicks.

He has a slight limp but proceeded to tell me he had been going to the club since he was two. He couldn't walk but was taught, is now 15 and has many medals, which he proudly showed me around his neck.

He goes three or four nights a week and the physio he gets helps him. When I asked what he thought of the place, he said simply it's my life.' I found out he has special needs, in addition to having a defective heart.

The reason I'm telling you all this, and the reason for the call to join up with literally hundreds of children and parents on the night, was they had received a typical short-and-to-the-point legal letter giving the club two weeks' notice by the college to vacate the premises.

The fact is that the college apparently want to sell the property even though the gym club along with others all those years ago put in £25,000 to help build the premises so that they can now bring the developers in who, also incidentally, built flats on the college's old playing fields and all-weather surfaces.

Possibly because of the excellent coverage given by the Daily Echo of the plight of the club, with a big photograph the following day, the solicitors have now followed up their initial letter with another saying the notice is now a two- week rolling notice.

That may ease the problem with what to do with all the equipment, but will be like the sword of Damocles hanging over these people particularly the wonderful volunteers who give up so many hours of their time to do this wonderful work.

If the inevitable does happen, surely the college should provide alternative accommodation?

Or if the council, in their wisdom, eventually give planning permission for the inevitable flats, will they make it a condition that alternative accommodation is provided?

I would think the new mayor, Cllr Slade, would surely be in support ... what with his daughter being the girlfriend of our local hero Theo Walcott.

What would have happened to him if similar moves had been taken when he was even younger to take away his training facilities?

He may not have been living the fairytale which we are all observing at present.

Public pressure, as has often been proved, can make people think twice.

I saw first hand the work that goes on down at this club.

Let's hope common sense prevails.