Cumbria Council votes unanimously to back Fair Game as momentum grows

“The financial model of football is broken. It is fans, and the local communities who suffer as a result of the broken model.”

Ben Shirley, Conservative Councillor for Dalton North

Cumbria County Council voted to back Fair Game and its mission to reform the governance of football in England. The motion was proposed by Ben Shirley, the Conservative Councillor for Dalton North, and passed unanimously earlier this week.

Cllr Ben Shirley said: “The financial model of football is broken. It is fans, and the local communities who suffer as a result of the broken model.

“That’s why I worked together with Cllr Will Clark to present the motion to council calling on Tracey Crouch MP’s fantastic fan led review into football to be implemented in full. so that clubs like Barrow AFC, Carlisle United, Workington Town, Kendal Town, and Penrith amongst the hundreds upon hundreds of grassroots clubs like Dalton Utd, and Askam Utd May have a prosperous and sustainable future.”

Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game, added: “It’s great to see Cumbria leading the way. Carlisle United were among the first clubs to back Fair Game, and then Kendal Town Council became the first Fair Game Council just before Christmas. MPs Tim Farron and Simon Fell are both huge advocates.

“It’s clear that Cumbria as a county really understands the importance of creating a sustainable long-term future for our football clubs. Momentum is truly building and it is now up to our parliamentarians to deliver.”

Cumbria County Council is the fifth council to endorse Fair Game, following on from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Newcastle City Council, Oldham Council and Kendal Town Council.

Fair Game has put together a simple step-by-step guide on how to approach your own councillors and help make your own council a Fair Game Council.