One of the classic tropes of politics is politicians pretending to be football fans. The low point of this phenomenon came when David Cameron couldn’t remember whether he was a West Ham or Aston Villa fan – a mistake that no genuine fan could make, no matter the similarities of their kit.
One of the aspects of Jeremy Corbyn’s authenticity that appeals to sports fans is his genuine and decades-long love for his football team – Arsenal FC. He and Labour will endear themselves even further with a new, detailed announcement on their funding plans for grassroots football that shows a genuine understanding of the real-life issues faced by football fans and grassroots players:
Labour pledges more funding to grassroots football on FA Cup final day
Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, will visit Hackney Marshes football pitches today to highlight Labour’s manifesto commitment to ensure 5 per cent of the Premier League’s domestic and international television rights’ income is diverted to the grassroots game. The pledge will help the next generation of players and coaches by drastically improving facilities and pitches.
Labour has also committed today to working with train operating companies, broadcasters and clubs to develop a new ‘Flexible Football Ticket‘ so that fans experience minimal disruption when games are switched. This will stop fans being left with worthless train tickets and having to fork out again for new tickets when games are re-arranged at short notice.
The visit is taking place on the same day as the FA Cup Final. The party’s manifesto also commits Labour to:
• Put fans at the heart of their clubs – by legislating for accredited supporters trusts to be able to appoint and remove at least two club directors and to purchase shares when clubs change hands. We will also review fan participation in sports governance more widely.
• Fix the broken ticketing market – by enforcing anti-bot legislation and implementing the recommendations of the Waterson review to ensure fair opportunities for fans to buy tickets.
• Improve access provision for disabled sports fans – by ensuring that rapid improvements are made and by prioritising action to make clubs comply with obligations under the 2010 Equality Act.
• Ensure that investment and support is given to grassroots women’s football so as many women and girls as possible can benefit from participating in footballJeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, will say:
“The FA Cup final marks the greatest day of the football season. Millions of football fans across the country, including myself, are eagerly awaiting kick off this evening at Wembley.
“Despite the game we all love receiving lucrative domestic and international TV deals, the grassroots game has been shamefully starved of funding over recent years.
“Too often, youth football teams cannot find pitches to play on and when they do they are expensive and the facilities are not fit for purpose. All-weather pitches are like gold-dust and coaching badges can cost unaffordable amounts. Under these circumstances, it is no surprise we are not nurturing the talent that we all know exists within the beautiful game.
“To address this lack of funding and lack of facilities, Labour in government will ensure that 5 per cent of domestic and international TV rights money is diverted to the grassroots game. This will ensure the footballing talent of young girls and boys is harnessed, and football is a game for the many, not the few.”
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour’s Shadow Sports Minister, will say:
“Football is our national game – it brings people together from all ages and all walks of life. We have one of the most commercially successful leagues in the world, but all too often pitches and grassroots community facilities are run down and in a state of disrepair.
“Without supporters, amateurs and young players, football would be barren. As broadcast revenues and the popularity of our leagues increase, so should the support that goes back into the grassroots game. We have to make sure we can develop future British playing and coaching talent, in order to make sure our leagues stay competitive for years to come.
If you have an interest in sport generally and in football in particular, then there’s really only one choice in this General Election – for this and a host of other reasons.
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Adirable sentiment for Football Cash to be given a few crumbs for the Grass Roots funding
If Football is our “National Game”, hope this lady would also look for a few quid for Cricket please ?
Hey Skwawkbox
Thank you for yet another excellent post. I certainly applaud Labour’s intention to redistribute the vast wealth received by football clubs back into the communities who actually help fund that wealth in the first place.
But why just stop there…why not also seek to engage other vastly wealthy and successful commercial enterprises (Legal and General for example, Mrs May’s nest-egg) to support through investment (or through effective, progressive and fair taxation) other areas and aspects of society badly needing funding as well such as affordable housing for vulnerable people, or provision of housing/shelters for the growing number of Homeless, the reduction/eradication of child poverty across the UK, provision of hospitals and specialist mental-health centres, or indeed, the provision of quality public transport to assist workers and employers alike. Why not for example, have the Telecommunications companies fund free mobile phone provision for the periods individuals are claiming Welfare Benefits such as JSA to facilitate their communication with employers. Or better still, provision of free mobile phones to the Homeless so that they may participate within the larger community and integrate themselves more readily back into society…even allowing them to stay in touch with loved ones, friends, and family.
I believe these capitalist driven commercial enterprises also have a responsibility to our communities and to the people and not just to their vastly wealthy, grossly rich shareholders and partners.
The time is right for unprecedented social change on a scale not ever seen before and to raise the standard of living for everyone in the UK and not just the select few. Jeremy Corbyn is the right man to lead this country out of darkness and onwards beyond the frontiers of traditional politics towards a brighter, stronger, and far better brave new world. That journey must begin in June 2017.
Namaste
DN
“Put fans at the heart of their clubs – by legislating for accredited supporters trusts to be able to appoint and remove at least two club directors and to purchase shares when clubs change hands. We will also review fan participation in sports governance more widely.”
Beezer of an idea.
Kenwright & Woods, beware. You’ve had it far too custy, for far too long. And you’ve latched onto Everton in the community, when the’re a seperate, self-financing entity.
https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/eitc-everton-in-the-community.78428/
It would be nice for grassroots football to get more funding especially with football growing more and more about the money