Jack’s the lad for fitness...

Sunderland boss Jack Ross has, for beleaguered red and white football fans, provided a long-overdue tonic ... wins on the pitch!

After successive seasons of depressing defeats, the Black Cats have found the winning touch in the third tier.

It has brought a smile to the fans’ faces as well as, with a lot more jumping up and down and cheering, managed to raise the heartrate at the Stadium of Light.

Now he’s helping to boost the health of our children.

As we reveal today, the Sunderland boss, along with first teamers Reece James and Glenn Lovins, rocked up at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Millfield to promote a special fitness challenge. It’s a double tonic for the community.

Not only does it see the club engaging with the future of its fanbase, but it helps improve kids’ fitness. And let’s make no bones about it, we live in a nation that could do with a kickstart fitness-wise.

British children are statistically among the least active in the world.

Government guidelines advise children to do at least an hour of moderate physical activity a day ... but barely one in four get near that figure.

St Joseph’s Daily Mile project, which sees youngsters running a mile on three different days during the week is a step (or jog) in the right direction.

But the schools cannot be expected to do it all.

Children need encouragement at home too if they are to improve their standing in the world as well as stave off health problems in the future.

Stars like Jack and his team are the best role models and we commend their community support.

They’re proving winners on and off the pitch.Long may it continue.