Great that our football clubs are being promoted

Also celebrating promotion are Nelson FC as Champions of the North West Counties Football League One. I was pleased to visit the club last June to meet Chief Executive Dave Edler, Chairman Fayyaz Ahmed and Manager Mark Fell.

I was excited by their plans for the club’s future and am delighted at their success. I was also pleased Barnoldswick Town FC were saved from their recent financial difficulties thanks to the hard work of volunteers and support of local businesses.

Whether winning trophies or not, sports clubs are really important for bringing communities together and providing opportunities for our young people. In the last three years, Sport England has awarded over £250,000 to Pendle Leisure Trust and sports groups including Colne and Nelson RUFC, Belvedere and Calder Vale Sports Club and Burwain Sailing Club.

Nelson and Colne College’s Sport Makers received £100,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Football Foundation has awarded Fence’s Pendle Forest Sports Club a £50,000 grant. This is to name just a few.

Last month, we also heard Pendle’s primary schools will be receiving an extra £327,395 a year to improve their sports and PE as part of the Olympic and Paralympic legacy. Between now and 2020, our primary schools will receive £2m. in sports funding. This will go towards supporting our young children stay fit and learn sports together.

As for me, I was honoured to be elected the Area President for the North East Lancashire Ramblers in February, no doubt because of my talent for rambling on!