AT long last angling is all set to net its own multi-purpose National Angling Centre.

Full planning permission was recently granted and six lakes, providing more than 200 pegs, are currently being packed with carp, roach, rudd and tench in readiness for the grand opening next year.

The exciting new complex will be at Whitmore, near Stoke-on-Trent, and will be jointly managed by Whitmore Leisure and the National Federation of Anglers.

Innovative designs will cater for all angling disciplines including game and even sea fishing - no mean feat in Staffordshire.

The complex is also being designed to provide an opportunity for holding exhibitions, events and corporate activities. The NFA are obviously planning big as they have secured 3,000 bed spaces at the nearby Keele University.

An upbeat NFA vice-president David Kent said: "We have waited a long time for this day and a National Angling Centre is long overdue.

"Coaching is now a fundamental part of our sport and both the government and Sport England will approve of this move which gives angling the chance to demonstrate that our coaches are equal in professionalism to any other sport.

"Catching and handling fish properly in a safe environment and under expert tuition will appeal to those people who don't fish but would like to give the sport a try."

There are 3.8 million people who go fishing and a sport so big should have a national centre.

However, recent information supplied by the Environment Agency brings major disappointment.

This season only 86 match report cards have been returned compared to 131 the previous year. Despite many reminders in this column and in the Amalgamation newsheet this means only £86 will be donated by the agency to help aid junior angling in the city.

Twelve clubs failed to return any match returns at all. I do not intend to name and shame all and sundry, but I was surprised to see that the York and District Amalgamation Committee featured in the list of worst offenders.

Congratulations go to Clifton Hotel who were top of the returns charts closely followed by Local AC, Star AC, New Earswick, York GPO and York Angling Association.

Next season the Amalgamation are to add a further incentive. A winner will be selected from all the returned cards who will receive a complimentary Year Book for 2005.

There are no matches booked on York water this weekend with match action concentrated on pegs upstream of Linton weir where big entries are anticipated for both opens.

With now only three weeks until the Winter League semi-final plenty of anglers from far and wide are heading to practice for the highest profile contest to be held on the river for more than a decade.

Updated: 09:39 Friday, February 20, 2004