IT IS hard to keep Matt Frost, pastor at the Cirencester Baptist Church, out of the news. The new building in Chesterton Lane will make make many things possible, but Matt this time marches firmly into a sporting column for three good reasons.

Firstly Matt was at school with the new England football manager, Gareth Southgate. If the youthful Southgate was guilty of any indiscretions, I am sure you will not hear about them from Matt who will be loyal to his former classroom colleague.

Reason two is because there are at least two good cricketers in the Frost household. I refer to both father and son, for whom I have one word of warning. When I was batting with my own father he would advise, coach and even interfere from the other end. I am sure it was well meaning but just served to confuse me.

Matt, I am sure you have plenty of good advice but save it until close of play.

Thirdly the football team associated with the Baptist Church is flying high at the top of the Cotswold Churches League. I hope the FA have got it right with Southgate’s appointment as they do not have a track record that gives cause for confidence. They are marvellous at sweeping matters under the carpet. Abuse of young players is one and perhaps the worst but there are others.

Betting and match fixing within the lower levels of the game has been dealt with in a cursory manner.

I saw a game in 2009 in which a defender caught the ball in his own penalty area, giving away a penalty that eventually brought about the desired result.

There was a nominal inquiry but no one was found guilty and I have read recently the players involved received their winnings.

The phrase ‘nominal inquiry’ is used because none of the watching journalists was interviewed about what happened. All were united in their views.

You need to be more rigorous in policing the game, FA. You can start with the allegations made against Sam Allardyce when he resigned from his England post. So far nothing has been done. Readers, do not hold your breath.

English rugby is back on track. Every sports fan must be enthused at our unbroken run of victories.

The latest, against Australia on Saturday, was especially pleasing. It is always admirable to defeat the antipodeans who can, on just a few occasions, be slightly arrogant. Well done to coach Eddie Jones and his players.

My rugby advisers tell me Ireland could bring our fine run to an end. This will be just a small hiccup in our movement upwards and if it does happen we can think back to beating the Aussies.

I see goal-scoring winger Jason Milhench is back at Fairford Town after a brief spell at the Corinium Stadium. I believe it was difficult to reconcile work and training commitments while with Cirencester. Happily for Fairford, he is helping them march forward with a convincing win in the Glos FA Challenge Trophy.

Chris Tanner, who writes exciting reports about his club’s successes, is still waiting for me to join him on the Fairford touchline. I will get there, Chris, but Forest Green Rovers are keeping me busy.

Scintillating football but frustrating results sum up FGR of late. Perhaps fixtures against seaside opposition Dover and Torquay will halt the recent run of results. Truro should also be despatched in the FA Trophy.

There are no comments about Cheltenham Town this week as I would not wish to intrude on private grief.

Instead I shall report on something joyous. Returning from Padstow on Saturday, I drove through Cirencester Market Place. It was alive and buzzing and I dashed there on Sunday. To be able to shop in the large outdoor market, with no danger of being run over, was a long-awaited pleasure.