Another week, another football club falls by the wayside.

Mabe FC, whose star has risen in recent seasons, ultimately have been unable to replace the players (and management) that left to take over Falmouth Town's Combination League side.

Of course, Falmouth Town's first team benefited from the recruitment of several Penryn players at the start of the season too, which precipitated the Kernick Road club's withdrawal from the Peninsula League.

In between that, Chacewater - for so many years one of the stronger teams in the Trelawny League - have also packed up. Marazion Blues too.

There is no blame or criticism attached (at least, not from me) to any of those clubs, but it does beg the question, why?

Football is a sporting colossus - people play, watch, eat and sleep it across the globe. Why then, does Cornwall appear to be bucking the trend?

Only recently did they decide to lower the age of veterans' rugby to 30, because they couldn't find enough players of "veteran" age.

At the other end of the spectrum, Penryn and Falmouth merged their Colts teams to form PenFal, in order to sustain one competitive side.

The structure of the Cornwall Cricket League has had more reshuffles than the current Conservative cabinet - all in a bid to make it more accessible and user friendly for its members.

So the future looks a little bleak for our three big, majority sports. Their dwindling numbers are almost certainly inversely proportional to the growth in other sports - and perhaps other activities.

When I was a child (I'm 44 now), I didn't think twice about getting lagged in mud, soaking wet and thoroughly exhausted, as long as there was a ball, a pitch, goals and some players (although I was quite happy to have a "match" on my own if necessary).

If my brother and I were to sit in and play computer games, it was because it was either dark, or a monsoon was taking place outside (which would put the pitch out of bounds, not my enthusiasm for a kick-about).

The computer games we played were rather limited. In some cases, terrible (just what WAS Knight Lore all about?).

Now, consoles are so sophisticated that not only are they incredibly realistic, they are also a brilliant source of socialising and interaction. They create talking points in school playgrounds.

No longer is there a need to "call" at your mate's house to go and play in a dimly lit street until you were told to come in (we even played American football in the road, using dustbins as the "end zones", for heaven's sake).

So technology is one factor. Choice is another. Schools no longer only have the "big three" on offer - within reason, students can play/do what they want. Which is a good thing, but one which may be having an impact on participation of our traditional pursuits.

On an online forum this week, it was suggested that the travel involved in going to matches is putting people off. I don't buy that though - if you're keen enough, you'll find a way to get there. Have boots, will travel.

More likely, I think it's because youngsters are more mobile, more outward looking. Shortly after passing their driving test, they'll think nothing of a weekend away with mates - at a festival, a gig, a holiday, whatever. Good for them. New experiences are the spice of life.

When I was 17 I could barely see beyond the end of my nose (and it's not a very big nose either).

Twenty-five years later, I don't play computer games, but I do still love the sports I grew up playing - football, golf and cricket. My relationships with those sports will be lifelong because of the bond I made as a child.

In this age of choice and diversity, far fewer of today's youngsters are likely to hang their hat on one of the "big three". Those sports will simply have to adapt and evolve, much like the youngsters themselves.