CAPTURING youngsters’ sporting successes in the Adver can help inspire both them and the next generation, according to boxing champion Kelvin Young.

As part of Local Newspaper Week, which aims to highlight how papers make a difference, the Adver is focusing on the different areas of local life that fill its column inches.

Our sports desk’s peerless reporting on all local professional and amateur sport from Swindon Town and speedway to ice hockey and swimming has put thousands of youngsters in the spotlight for their achievements – even following them through to superstardom.

Kelvin, who won his IBO super-middleweight inter-continental championship last October, has reflected on when he first got a mention in the local paper and the resolve it gave him to succeed.

A report in the Adver in April 2000 spoke of Kelvin as the emerging talent, at the tender age of just 13.

It said: “Emerging schoolboy Kelvin Young chalked up his fourth consecutive win with polished points win over Carl Andrews from the host National Smelting gym.

“The Bristolian contributed enormously to this thriller between two committed young boxers, but he failed to match Young’s greater accuracy and could not complain when all three judges gave the verdict against him.”

The 27-year-old, of Penhill, said: “The paper has always supported me – I remember when I was a kid and I first got a mention, I was like ‘wow I’m in the paper’. It was great.

“As a kid growing up and being in the gym seeing the pros would be really exciting and I think when kids see people in the paper they look up to them. “I think it’s good for kids to see me in there winning and it might inspire them too like it inspired me.”

As well as the Grass Roots supplement published each Tuesday inside the Adver, the paper is there for every breaking and big story.

When Swindon Robins won the speedway Elite League the Adver was there to celebrate with them. When Paolo Di Canio quit as Swindon Town boss, the Adver was there with the fallout and to champion the fans’ voice.

The paper also sings the praises of the often unsung heroes, through our annual Sports Awards, and through in-depth features on the work of organisations such as Swindon Town Football in the Community Trust.