CHAIRMAN OF NEWCASTLE UNITED AND LOWER LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Early day motion 221, tabled 29 November 2004 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 22 members.

That this House notes the comments of Mr Freddy Shepherd, the Chairman of Newcastle United Association Football Club, that the Premier League should take over the running of the other leagues and that 'When we have got 52,000 fans at each home game, the last thing we are worried about is clubs in the third division'; further notes the contribution made to the success of Newcastle United by players purchased from lower division clubs, from Hughie Gallagher in the 1920s to Kieron Dyer today; and reminds Mr Shepherd that the success of association football in this country is based on the strength of its grassroots, through the semi-professional and professional football club teams, with the modern Premiership signifying little more than a contest between the fattest cheque books.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 2, DUP 1.