Football crazy MP on a mission to get kids into sport

Cost of accessing football is making it hard for some families

Plymouth Moorview MP Fred Thomas is on a mission to get more children playing football.

He claims difficulties accessing sport, particularly football, is an issue in the city and more funding is needed.

It’s his view that through sport, children can attain the skills they need for life.

The former royal marine, who is a keen football player, has launched a campaign called Football for All, with some of the most disadvantaged youngsters in his constituency taking part in a free session at Manadon Sports Hub.

It’s a collaboration between the MP and Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Argyle Football Club’s charity.

Sixty boys and girls joined in, with 50 per cent of those who receive free school meals attending the event.

Mr Thomas explained: “We are a football crazy city and yet many of our families struggle with the cost of accessing sport and particularly football.

“Argyle Community Trust do amazing work in this space and do loads of outreach programmes, some of which are free or subsidised, and I want to help them and grow these networks so as many people as possible are aware of them.

“Every kid in Plymouth deserves the same opportunity.

“The cost can quickly become unobtainable for some families when you take into account the bus fare, the kit, booking a place, providing food and so on.

“I know from knocking on doors for over a year on the campaign trail that it is an issue, and I play loads of football so it is something close to my heart.

“For kids not to be able to access sport because their family does not have the financial means is wrong and it shouldn’t be happening in this day and age in one of the richest countries in the world.”

“It is about creating high quality, accessible venues and making sure that these are available to all children. While we have enough space physically in Plymouth we can do more to get kids out playing football.”

Mr Thomas intends to raise awareness of the inequalities and access to sport in Westminster and lobby for funds.

He explained that sport “builds teamwork and the faith in your own ability to solve problems. Kids grow up quick and if you have those chances at primary school by the time you get to secondary school you are in a good position to go out and learn … and that leads into the professional world.”

According to Action for Children, more than a third of children in Plymouth were in poverty in 2021/22, with more than 70 per cent in working families.

Head of business development and impact at Argyle Community Trust Dwain Morgan said sport is often a luxury, but the barriers to participation are not always financial.  Confidence, self-esteem and availability of transport are often issues.

“Children get the opportunity to play football through school and some holiday hunger initiatives, but not every child gets the opportunity to experience grassroots football if they want to.”

He continued: “When Fred said he wanted to drive change at a local and government level, we wanted to get on board. We know there are some wards within the city which there are low aspirations in young people, low school academic attainment, participation rates and health inequality. It is our job to use sport as a vehicle to address them.”

Mr Morgan said there are some wonderful success stories of children who had come through local football programmes who had grown in confidence to join grassroots teams, messages from parents whose children had gone back to school and improved their academic attainment and some youngster had got into Plymouth Argyle’s Academy.