Darlington and Chesterfield join Fair Game in mission to reboot our National Game

‘We need a future that protects our clubs for decades to come, one where every Darlington fan can put on the shirt in the morning proud in everything it stands for.’

David Johnston, CEO of Darlington FC

FAIR GAME are delighted to announce the addition of Darlington FC to their numbers. The Quakers became the 22nd team to support the club-led organisation’s mission to reboot the governance of the national game, and were joined late last night by Chesterfield taking the total of Fair Game clubs to 23.

Fair Game is backed by a team of 30 plus world-renowned football experts, and is striving to develop realistic long-term solutions to the problems football faces such as protecting the heritage and traditions of clubs, financial sustainability of the game throughout the pyramid, and creating an Owners and Directors Test worthy of the name.

The 23 clubs of Fair Game are Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Basingstoke Town, Bury AFC, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United, Carlisle United, Chester, Chesterfield, City of Liverpool, Curzon Ashton, Darlington FC, Dorking Wanderers, Ebbsfleet United, Grimsby Town, Leyton Orient, Lincoln City, Luton Town, Maidstone United, Newport County AFC, Tonbridge Angels, Tranmere Rovers and Worcester City.

David Johnston, CEO of Darlington FC, said: "Like so many clubs, we are acutely aware that football needs a reboot. And that's why I'm delighted Darlington to announce that Darlington are backing Fair Game.

"We've felt the pain football can give here at Darlington. What we need is a future that protects our clubs for decades to come, one where every Darlington fan can put on the shirt in the morning proud in everything it stands for.

"Let's have sustainability, let's have fairness and let's make our national game a beacon for our communities.

"I believe Fair Game can help deliver that."

Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game, added: “It’s wonderful news to have two great clubs such as Chesterfield and Darlington join our numbers. There is a real momentum growing amongst clubs at all levels to change the way football is run.

“Tracey Crouch’s football review has opened the door and her interim findings were encouraging. The mission now is to make sure that we give her all the support she needs to make sure that in a few years’ time we have a game that we can all be proud of both on and off the pitch.”