Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Grassroots Sport Clubs and Facilities

Thursday 27 February 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial support acknowledged for grassroots sports clubs across constituencies.
  • Government commitment to investing in multi-sport grassroots facilities programs.
  • Meeting offered to discuss local football club needs with the Football Foundation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Henry Tufnell Lab Mid and South Pembrokeshire
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Haverfordwest County AFC is a local football club in Pembrokeshire that works with schools to provide activities for children and adults. It faces challenges similar to many other clubs.

Question

Haverfordwest County AFC is a fantastic football club in the wonderful constituency of Mid and South Pembrokeshire. The club works with local schools to facilitate football sessions for all pupils, and it provides a healthy breakfast and lunch for participants. It also runs a fantastic walking football club. Will the Minister outline what the Labour Government are doing to support the work of our brilliant local clubs, such as Haverfordwest County AFC, in making sport more accessible? Will she join me in wishing Haverfordwest County the best of luck for the rest of the season?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)

First, I pay tribute to Haverfordwest County AFC and the many grassroots clubs across the country for their important work in making sport accessible to communities. The Government are committed to continuing to support local clubs through investment in the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme. I join my hon. Friend in wishing Haverfordwest County AFC the very best of luck with the rest of the season.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not specify what actions the Labour Government is taking to support such clubs beyond general commitment.

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Q2 Luke Taylor Lib Dem Sutton and Cheam
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Sutton United is a local football club that provides various teams including junior, women's, disabled, and walking football. The club needs better training facilities to ensure year-round activities.

Question

My fantastic local football club, Sutton United, provides excellent opportunities in grassroots sports through its junior, women and disabled teams, and it even has a walking football club for those of us, Mr Speaker, who need a gentler pace of play. However, it tells me that it desperately needs access to more training facilities to ensure there is year-round football for all players. The training pitch the club uses in the local park is often waterlogged and unusable. Will the Minister support Sutton United in securing a new all-weather pitch? Will she meet me and the club to discuss potential sources of funding to make that a reality?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)

Those are issues that I have heard in my own constituency. I would be delighted to meet him and will perhaps set up a meeting with the Football Foundation too.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not confirm support for Sutton United but stated she would discuss potential funding sources.

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Q3 Lee Pitcher Lab Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Thorne Colliery club in Doncaster is working with the Football Foundation on potential investment for its pitch but faces uncertainty due to governance and financial challenges.

Question

Last week, I met the fantastic Thorne Colliery club in my constituency of Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, which is working with the Football Foundation on potential investment for its pitch, which is based on the Moorends welfare site. While that is a fantastic example of the support available for grassroots facilities, many clubs still face uncertainty due to governance and financial challenges. Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to ensure that football governance reforms provide greater security for grassroots clubs and the facilities that they rely on?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)

I agree with my hon. Friend that local grassroots clubs have a crucial part to play in delivering wider societal benefits, fostering social cohesion and building a strong sense of local identity. The Football Association is responsible for good governance at this level, and its new grassroots strategy, launched in the autumn, looks to set clubs up for success.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not specify concrete steps being taken but referred to a general strategy by the Football Association.

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