Last month, I was delighted to speak in Parliament about a cause very dear to my heart – football. More specifically, the government’s Football Governance Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament.  

Before I was elected, I promised Crewe Alexandra Football Club that I would support the Football Governance Bill.  

I gladly voted in favour of the government’s proposals, which will: 

• introduce an independent football regulator to provide genuine oversight of the game from top to bottom 

• introduce a licensing system to tackle rogue owners 

• set a minimum standard of fan engagement in our clubs; and 

• give the regulator the power to intervene to ensure revenue is fairly distributed throughout the football pyramid. 

These measures will help to safeguard and protect one of our biggest cultural institutions. Our national game is about more than winning trophies and signing world-class players.  

However, the Bill will not solve all the sport’s problems. I am writing this in the wake of the Liverpool Premier League parade; a day that should have been filled with celebration but was instead marred by a dangerous driver disobeying a police cordon. My heart goes out to all those injured, as well as those who witnessed what I am sure was a traumatic experience. 

As a sport, football makes the headlines more than most, for good and bad.  

Sadly, controversy surrounding crowds like those on Monday is far too common, with police frequently engaging in kettling techniques to manage crowds and antisocial behaviour during games. It’s fair to say that the relationship between fans and officers has been a source of friction. 

Football also remains the only sport with a stadium-wide alcohol ban at games. I believe this only adds to that tension, an argument which I have made publicly before. 

However, football also brings communities together. The pull of the game brings with it a wealth of economic opportunities for local people. We’ve seen greater representation, with women’s football rising tenfold in popularity, and viewing figures reaching a record high of 44.7 million in 2024. Academies also provide young people with skills and open doors that they may never have had access to otherwise.   

In our local area, I’ve seen myself the wonderful work Crewe Alexandra do with charities like Wishing Well and the YMCA to provide access to sport for vulnerable people.  

The club also recently announced plans to give away 12,000 tickets to their youngest fans, inspiring that intergenerational connection to football for everybody – not just those that can afford a seat. Notwithstanding my obvious biases, Alex are a leading example of the community-led ethos that clubs – and fans – can embody (unless Port Vale are playing). 

Managing the frenzy of a game or parade is no easy task. Fostering relationships between local officers, community leaders, and fans is essential to doing so. In the aftermath of Monday’s events, we must continue to focus on playing an independent, and community-led game.