The former England rugby union captain, Phil de Glanville, has been involved in the £750,000 King George V Sports and Community Centre project since its inception two years ago. As a Sport England official it was his job to ensure the scheme met the needs of the whole community and represented a good use of National Lottery and government cash. Having grown up on Dartmoor the project meant a lot to him and he spoke exclusively with Nigel Canham about it... Q: Why is Sport England involved in the Moretonhampstead project? A: 'Our whole purpose at Sport England is to get more people involved in sport and to get more success at the top level competitions. The two things go hand in hand. 'Success attracts more people into grass roots activities and means there are more in the pipeline preparing to become the sports stars of tomorrow.'

Q: What sets this project apart from others you've been involved with? A: 'The thing that is so great about King George is that it has been community driven. 'It's come from the playing fields trust who saw the need for it and when you've got that sort of motivation and commitment things like this actually happen. They've done wonders here. 'We challenged them hard on the budget and the whole way they've conducted the project but with huge volunteer support they've produced a highly specified facility at a cost much lower than most people could achieve. Q: A great achievement, for sure, but what are there benefits off the pitch? A: 'I've seen the power that sport has at all levels, whether you're an elite athlete or part of a good social or village club. 'It teaches you respect, you get friends who will stay with you forever and it gives you those life skills that are essential long after you've walked off the pitch. 'You learn how to win without bragging and how to lose without throwing your toys out of the pram and quite simply it gives you a foundation, an anchor which means you can cope with pretty much anything that life throws at you.

Q: What else is coming up on the horizon? A: 'The UK School Olympics which will start in Glasgow this September before being rolled out nationwide with a proper competitive structure in every county next year. 'The county games will culminate in regional and then national competitions featuring several olympic disciplines. The government has put £6 million into the games which will offer our up and coming athletes the chance to shine and be spotted. It's really something to look out for.'