Gateshead Football Club has signed up to a new coalition of value-driven football clubs working together to improve governance of football in England and Wales, called Fair Game.
Gateshead join 24 other clubs including Accrington Stanley, Basingstoke Town, Bury AFC, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United, Carlisle United, Chester FC, Chesterfield, City of Liverpool, Curzon Ashton, Darlington, Dorking Wanderers, Ebbsfleet United, Grimsby Town, Leyton Orient, Lincoln City, Luton Town, Maidstone United, Newport County AFC, Rochdale AFC, Tonbridge Angels, Tranmere Rovers, AFC Wimbledon and Worcester City as members.
Fair Game is working with a team of over 40 world-renowned experts to find long-term solutions to issues around the game, including protecting the heritage of clubs, a fairer distribution of TV revenues, opposing the European Super League, and tackling discrimination.
The organisation also has the backing of several leading politicians, including the Shadow minister for sport Alison McGovern, the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, and the Conservative MP Damian Green, a leading member of the influential DCMS committee.
Club Chairman, Neil Pinkerton said: “Gateshead has always been a community club.
“We believe our fans are our greatest strength. But the collapse of the likes of Bury and Macclesfield and the debacle of the European Super League have shown clearly that football needs to change.
Niall Couper, director of Fair Game, said: “I am delighted that Gateshead Football Club have joined.
“Fair Game is calling for fairness, sustainability and success. At Fair Game, we want long-term realistic solutions and we believe we can deliver them.
“We want a sport where every fan can put their shirt on in the morning proud in what it stands for, safe in the knowledge that the traditions and heritage of their club will always be there.”
To find out more about Fair Game visit www.fairgameuk.org.
