Local MP joins cross-party support for Early Day Motion lauding work of Barnsley Football Club

 

Barnsley Football Club has been named in an Early Day Motion in Parliament congratulating all 72 Football League clubs for their work in the community.

The Early Day Motion (EDM) recognises the power of Football League clubs, such as Barnsley Football Club, to improve their local communities, and congratulates them on delivering a wide range of community related projects that have engaged more than 1.5million people in the last 12 months.

Local MP Eric Illsley, Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central, has added hissupport to the EDM saying:

“Barnsley Football Club are at the heart of the local community and I am very proud of the work they do in and around Barnsley. The REDS are driving positive outcomes on major social issues such as health, education, social cohesion and sports participation. I am delighted to add my support to a cross-party push in Parliament to give them the recognition they deserve.”

Don Rowing, General Manager/ Director and Chairman of the Barnsley FC Sports and Education Trust, said:

“We are delighted to have been recognised in this way by Parliament. It is a major boost for our community team who work tirelessly seven days a week to improve the lives of local residents.”

Gavin Megaw, Director of External Affairs for The Football League, added:

"Football League clubs are working at the heart of their communities up and down the country and it is great to see them get such deserved recognition in Parliament.  Football has a power to make a difference, and we are very proud of the positive work all our 72 clubs do in engaging over one and a half million people every year.”

The Early Day Motion, numbered 658, was tabled by Chloe Smith MP (Norwich North) and is transcribed below. It has cross-party support from all sides of the House of Commons:

The Work of the Football League Trust

“That this House congratulates The Football League Trust for its work at the heart of 72 communities across England and Wales; notes the work of Football League clubs in delivering positive outcomes on major social issues such as health, education, social cohesion and sports participation to more than 1.5million people in the last 12 months; and recognises that the power of football is being used to improve the local community at Accrington Stanley, AFC Bournemouth, Aldershot Town, Barnet, Barnsley, Blackpool, Bradford City, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Burton Albion, Bury, Cardiff City, Carlisle United, Charlton Athletic, Cheltenham Town, Chesterfield, Colchester United, Coventry City, Crewe Alexandra, Crystal Palace, Dagenham & Redbridge, Darlington, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Gillingham, Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United, Hereford United, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Leyton Orient, Leicester City, Lincoln City, Macclesfield Town, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Milton Keynes Dons, Morecambe, Newcastle United, Northampton Town, Norwich City, Notts County, Nottingham Forest, Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Port Vale, Preston North End , Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Rochdale, Rotherham United, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town, Southampton, Southend United, Stockport County, Swansea City, Swindon Town, Tranmere Rovers, Torquay United, Walsall, Watford, West Bromwich Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Yeovil Town.”