South Lakeland District Council votes unanimously to back Fair Game

“It is about football, but more importantly it is about community values for all. Everyone should be able to benefit from the big bucks income of the professional game.”

Mark Wilson, Labour Cllr for Ulverston East

LATE last night South Lakeland District Council became the eighth council to formerly endorse Fair Game. At a packed meeting, the council passed a motion supporting Fair Game’s manifesto and calling on other councils to follow suit.

The motion was proposed by Lberal Democrat Cllr Jonathan Cornthwaite, who represents Mintsfeet Ward in Kendal, and seconded by Labour Cllr Mark Wilson. The motion was passed unanimously.

Cllr Wilson, who represents the ward of Ulverston East, said: “It is about football, but more importantly about Community values for all. Everyone should be able to benefit from the big bucks income of the professional game. Our local teams put in great efforts to be inclusive of age and gender when organising their programmes for holiday clubs, football training and the season ahead. They need to benefit from a cascade of these enormous riches.”

Tim Farron, the MP for Wesmorland and Lonsdale and former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, added: “I'm delighted that South Lakeland has backed Fair Game. More and more communities are backing the movement for our national game to be well led, accountable to fans and accessible to all. It's so important that we continue to widen the campaign for football to be fair on and off the pitch.”

Fair Game is a group of 34 value-driven professional football clubs, including Carlisle United, working with over 40 world-renowned experts to develop realistic long-term solutions to the problems our national game faces.

A recent Fan-Led Review into football governance coordinated by former Conservative Sports Minister Tracey Crouch produced 47 recommendations, which included measures to embed financial sustainability, good governance, equality standards and proper fan and community engagement - all under the remit of a new independent regulator. Fair Game fully supports the Review and is calling on the government to introduce legislation to implement it in full as soon as possible and just this week had a fruitful meeting with the Minister for sport Nigel Huddleston MP.

Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game, added: “My heartfelt thanks go to everyone at South Lakeland District Council. Football has the opportunity to be a force for good. And it is great to see the politicians, the public and the clubs of Cumbria and across the UK coming together to call for change.

“It is time to champion and support hard-working community clubs and protect their heritage and traditions for generations to come.”

South Lakeland District Council is the eighth council to endorse Fair Game, following on from Cumbria County Council, Kendal Town Council, Newcastle City Council, Oldham Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and Tonbridge & Malling Borough 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.