Footballers in a community 6 a side league in Stoke on Trent got an influential fan this week at their prize giving, when MP Rob Flello was on hand to lend his support.
Mr. Flello, the MP for Stoke South, took the time to go to his local league at The Stanley Matthews Academy in Blurton and presented the prizes to the winning team, Club The CA – who had swept to victory on the back of winning all 15 games and scoring 102 goals – before staying to watch the rest of the matches.
A keen advocate of the benefits of community football, Mr Flello recently sponsored a Commons Early Day Motion which praised the work of the UK Minifootball Association and he explained why he thought these leagues were vital to the community: “It’s more than just a group of friends having a kick about,” he said. “This is about people getting out there, getting fit, getting healthy and all the benefits that go with that.”
One of the key aspects of the EDM, which the MP said he was “delighted” to sign, was not just the accessibility of the sport to the entire community, but also the fact that the players in each league get the chance to represent their countries and Mr Flello added: “1.3 million players play the sport each week and that in itself is fantastic, but actually having the chance of representing your country and going on and playing at a fantastic location abroad is brilliant.
“I think that is so important and sets up superb opportunity which people can take, so they are getting all the benefits of playing, but that means not just coming top of their league, but also the chance to something wonderful.”
Mr Flello joked that he was just annoyed that he had missed his chance to go to Montenegro last year: “Sign me up for that!” He laughed.
Mr Flello was speaking at the Football Evolution league in Stoke on Trent. To find out more about the benefits of affiliating the UKMA log on to www.ukminifootball.co.uk