I’LL MAKE OUR GAME THRIVE!
SIR KEIR STARMER has vowed to make sure NonLeague football ‘thrives’ if he ever becomes Prime Minister.
The Labour Party leader spoke exclusively to The NonLeague Paper on Tuesday while on a visit to AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the run up to the Wellingborough by-election.
Sir Keir is a season ticket holder at Arsenal but has played football himself since the age of 10 – including for north London side Homerton Academicals – developing a strong passion for the NonLeague and grass-roots game along the way.
Back in November, it was announced as part of the King’s speech that the government was to put a football governance bill before parliament, confirming the legislation that will create an independent regulator for the game, two years on from the landmark publication of the fan-led review of football governance.
In his address to parliament, King Charles said: “Legislation will be brought forward to safeguard the future of football clubs for the benefit of communities and fans.”
The legislation comes at a crucial time for the NonLeague game with clubs continuing to struggle to stay afloat. This season alone, Hednesford Town and, more controversially, Southend United had to be rescued at the last minute, while Hamworthy United, East Thurrock United, Marske United and Nuneaton Borough were all forced to resign from their respective leagues.
Sir Keir’s Labour Party are currently heading the election polls and the 61-yearold insists safeguarding clubs such as these will be a main priority should he assume power at No.10.
“Non-League football will thrive under my leadership” Sir Keir told The NLP. “I want to protect Non-League football under my leadership because these clubs are so integral to our communities. That’s why I will always come and support local clubs and I will try to do that when I’m visiting up and down the country.
Community
“We had Jamie Vardy come through, and Ian Wright back in the day – someone close to my heart. I can’t tell you how important this is to me. NonLeague and grass-roots football is something very close to me.
“I’ve been playing football since I was 10 and, yes, I’m a season ticket holder at Arsenal but I’m also a regular in grass-roots football and a passionate supporter of it. “Non-League football is so important because it’s that sense of place, that opportunity that youngsters have to come in to a club to develop their skills, and that sense of pride that brings to a club, whatever the level.
“Community is a huge part of it too. Yes, there’s the 90 minutes on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon, or whenever the game might be, but football clubs are so much more than that. They are also places that go out and support their communities and local businesses. That’s so important.
“Here at AFC Rushden & Diamonds they are supporting their local businesses, serving the fans on the day. Different parts of the community come together, so they give a huge amount back.
“And for every youngster that gets the chance to train or even play with these teams, it’s an opportunity they maybe wouldn’t have always had. Like any football fan, that 90 minutes matters.
Supportive
“Look what happened during Covid when many of these clubs were right at the centre of helping to support their communities, like here at Rushden & Diamonds where people come and help run a local foodbank, and that’s the case with many other clubs.”
The threat of a breakaway European Super League was the catalyst behind the Independent Football Regulator.
“The Independent Regulator is important and why we are so supportive because what it needs to do is to ensure that the Super League doesn’t go ahead and to stop the big six from breaking away,” he added. “We can’t allow that to happen, it would be devastating for our game.
“We have to make sure we have a proper framework around football, in terms of financing, and ensure that Non-League and lower league clubs are fully supported because, as we know, many of them are struggling literally week by week in order to make ends meet, and under my leadership I will do whatever I can to protect them.”