Mike Holden has something of a secret sporting past that he is ready to share with the rest of the world.

For the man who many know for his boundless enthusiasm for rugby committed the biggest sin of all -- he used to play football!

In fact, Mike is something of a sporting all-rounder having successfully turned his skills in his youthful past to tennis, cricket and was a county standard sprinter while in school.

But before he is hung from the goal posts at the Ramsgreave Drive club, the case for the defence.

For despite his dabbles in different disciplines his first love has always been rugby -- and the hard work he has put in at Blackburn RUFC since returning to the club in 1996 proves the point.

"I suppose I am a bit of an all-rounder and I do like to play different sports. But I first played rugby as a youngster in schools and have loved it ever since -- although it may have taken me a while to get back in to it.

"I still like to play rugby today. Nowadays I prefer to play full back because you can see everything that is going on and blame everyone else!"

But he has wasted little time in getting down to work and since taking up the post of chairman of the club's mini and youth set-up, Blackburn now has one of the biggest junior sections in the North West.

However, Mike is the first to champion the work others have done at Blackburn which has some of the best facilities in the North West for junior rugby and is rapidly increasing in size with around 200 young players in squads from Under 6 to Under 17 levels.

For Mike would like to nominate Bob Fox and Mark Bullen as two Unsung Heroes of his own. The pair have for many years been working with schools and developing the mini and youth section -- and in recognising their achievements they have been made the first presidents of mini and youth rugby at the Club.

Mike said: "Firstly, and most importantly I would like to thank all the mini and youth volunteers at Blackburn Rugby Club, past and present, and the senior committee members and Club President for their strong support of the section I represent.

"Without their help we would have not been able to develop BRUFC Mini and Youth -- in particular I would thank Ken Woolley who put together the successful lottery application that set the wheels in motion!

"Ken still takes an active interest in mini and youth and is much respected throughout the club."

Under Mike's guidance, the mini and youth section has unearthed some talented youngsters although taking in players who have never played the game before is equally as important.

He added: "We welcome new players irrespective of ability and have training sessions aimed at improving ball handling skills and rugby technique on weekday evenings and on Sundays.

"For those who show exceptional skills in the youth section we refer players to represent the county at age groups from under 13 to under 16. Players with exceptional ability are forwarded to represent the North and train or play with the National Youth Squad."

The mini and youth section has developed at an astonishing pace over the past few years but this season has been, in Mike's words 'truly outstanding'.

For the club now has at least 200 playing members -- with a large number of under sevens eights joining the club while the club has worked closely with St Wilfrids High School to turn them in to a rugby force to be reckoned with while Pleckgate High School has also gained interest.

Blackburn's under 13s reached the semi final of the Lancashire Plate Competition while several players at county level with Luke Elston playing at North of England Level.

Mike said: "It has been something of a world wind. It hasn't really happened over night because a lot of people have put a lot of hard work in to making the mini and youth section what it is today. But this last year has been astonishing."

Probably the highlight came earlier in the month when Blackburn was chosen to host the Royal and Sun Alliance Festival as part of the Commonwealth Games where 13 U15 county sides from across the country played at Blackburn.

"That was a great honour for the club," said Mike. "It means we are being recognised for work we are doing here and that meant a lot to us."

In the past the club has hosted the Lancashire Youth Games Tag Rugby competition while it is currently working closely with Hyndburn Borough Council for its own Commonwealth Games event which will take place next month.

"I think one of the reasons we are doing so well is that we are willing to work with a lot of different people. We are not happy to just sit back. We want to promote rugby to as many youngsters as possible."

High on the agenda is to form a Primary Schools Tag Rugby League while get more Secondary Schools involved in rugby.

"There aren't enough secondary schools playing rugby," admitted Mike. "But if you take St Wilfrid's as example. Once you start playing then anything is possible. I saw them wipe the floor with King Edward VI Grammar School, a school that is a tradition rugby playing school."

Despite the hours he puts in, 30 hours a week he estimated, Mike still loves the playing side of the game and is proud of being in the Blackburn Third XV that finished runners-up in the league.

"I only missed three or four games all season," he said proudly. "Rugby is a tough sport but it is a great sport to be involved in. We don't throw the youngsters straight in. We introduce them gradually and that is why Tag Rugby is such a great game.

"There is a very good social side to the game and I don't just mean the drinking and singing in the bar afterwards. It is a sport for all the family to enjoy."

It is no wonder he has gone back to the sport he adores with a passion.

For after playing football for Wilpshire Bulls Head, tennis for Withnell and cricket for Feniscowles, Blackburn RUFC is Mike's real home from home!