Grassroots and Non-league Football

Tom Gordon, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Harrogate and Knaresborough, asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, what steps the Government is taking to support grassroots and non-league football. In response, Stephanie Peacock stated that the Government is investing £123 million through football partners to improve grassroots facilities across the country. Tom Gordon followed up by discussing his recent visit to Knaresborough Town AFC in his constituency, where he met with fantastic people who share the club's facilities with other community groups. He noted that the pitch is often waterlogged due to the weather, and there is a lack of 3G pitches in the area. Gordon asked the Minister if she would be willing to meet with him to discuss how they can further support Knaresborough Town and potentially help them get a new pitch. Stephanie Peacock expressed her gratitude for the question and said she would be delighted to meet with Gordon. She also offered to connect him with the Football Foundation, which supports grassroots communities in getting new pitches. Ian Lavery, the MP for Blyth and Ashington, then intervened, discussing the situation at Blyth Spartans, a famous non-league club in his constituency that is currently up for sale. Lavery expressed concern about the current chairman's failure to deliver on promises and engage transparently with the supporters. He asked the Minister if she agrees that non-league football clubs are at the heart of their communities and that engagement with supporters is critical to their survival. Stephanie Peacock agreed with Lavery's comments, emphasizing the importance of fan involvement at all levels of the football pyramid, including grassroots football. Finally, Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, asked the Minister about the growth of women's football, noting that the number of teams has more than doubled in the past seven years. Wilkinson mentioned Cheltenham Town Women's thriving team and the "Equal FA Cup" campaign run by Lewes FC. He asked the Minister if she agrees that it is time for equality of prize money across the men's and women's FA Cups. Stephanie Peacock responded that the Government is fully committed to supporting and growing women's sport, and that the ambition to have equal prize money across sport, where possible, is absolutely right. She noted that the Football Association has taken steps to double the prize fund for the women's FA Cup, and the Government will continue to pay close attention to this issue.