27/04/2013
Secretary of State responds to MUST's nomination of Old Trafford as an Asset of Community Value
MUST - the Manchester United Supporters Trust today (Saturday 27/04/2013) welcomed the comments from the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in response to the news that Old Trafford and Anfield have been nominated as Assets of Community Value by their respective supporters' trusts (MUST & Liverpool Supporters' Union)
The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government said:
"Football stadiums are not only the heart and soul of every team, they are rooted in and loved by the neighbourhoods that surround them."
"Thanks to the new rights we've created, today football fans are exercising their community right to keep the beautiful game at their team's spiritual home by protecting their stadium's future."
"These rights are being used to back many more community ventures from local sports clubs, pubs, village shops and even a pier."
MUST welcomed the response from the Secretary of State:
"We're delighted to see recognition of our nomination coming right from the top with these supportive words coming from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government."
"We anticipate fan groups at clubs across the country will be exploring nomination of their own stadia both to enhance their protection and offer the future opportunity to take them into supporter ownership, perhaps as a stepping stone towards a significant ownership stake in the clubs themselves."
Contacts:
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Locality guide: Community Right to Bid – the Implications for Supporters Trusts can be downloaded from this page:
http://bit.ly/11npdDb
To contact Trafford Council Communications team:
communications@trafford.gov.uk
0161 912 4080
Trafford Council Mayor's Office
mayors.office@trafford.gov.uk
0161 912 4221
Leader of Trafford Council
Matthew Colledge
matthew.colledge@trafford.gov.uk
0161 980 1792