IN THE modern world there are few things more powerful than sport.

While sport can sometimes have bad press for corruption, cheating and heavily overpaid stars, the reality is that, at a grassroots level, it has the power to bring people together from all walks of life, to form lasting friendships and bring out the best in all of us.

This is clearly the case with Adam Taylor, a man who dedicated himself to his local team, worked hard to get the best out of it and commanded the respect and friendship of almost everyone who knew him.

It is amazing to consider how he was so well known and well liked, simply for being himself and for his love of a game that millions of people take part in each week.

It is through people like Adam that we can take note of the good sport can do, using it as an example of why you might want to try something new and pursue that sport you might have wanted to try after being inspired by the Rio Olympics earlier this month.