I am very pleased to hear that Premier League's Matchday Support Fund has allocated thousands of pounds in funding to our local football clubs. I was on the stands at Park Road to see Cheadle Town FC’s last match pre-lockdown - football is the lifeblood of our community for so many, and I welcome this news that will ensure we can get back to enjoying the game.

Cheadle Heath Nomads Football Club, Cheadle Town Football Club and Cheadle Town Stingers Womens’ Football Club are all recipients of the Matchday Support Fund being delivered by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), the grant-giving body that provides Premier League funding to support ground improvements for clubs in the professional, women's and non-league games.

Funded by the premier league, the Matchday Support Fund offers a range of grants for eligible clubs in order to allow a safe return of football. This funding will help them cover the costs of adjustments that need to be made to safely facilitate the return of players and their supports to their stadiums. In order to protect the NHS and save lives, football during lockdown looked very different to normal, with games limited to household groups and gradually opening up to organised games. As a sport which draws large crowds at all levels, it is vital that a safe return to matches is facilitated and this funding will go far to assist local clubs. The thousands of pounds being allocated to Cheadle Heath Nomads F.C., Cheadle Town F.C. and Cheadle Town Stingers WFC will help cover the costs of adjustments that need to be made to safely cater for the return of players, supporters and volunteers who live and breathe local football.