'Let fans back on the Turf' - Burnley MP's plea to Prime Minister

That is the view of Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham, who championed the return of fans in a plea to Government this week.

Raising the issue in Parliament, Mr Higginbotham urged the Government to move at pace and get fans back to matches, but in doing so he said that clubs need the freedom to do what needs to be done to manage the return safely.

Writing in his weekly Express column, the town’s MP said: “Thousands of fans coming to Burnley from across the country stimulated our local economy.

“It filled up our hotels, our restaurants and our pubs. We are not a city like Manchester or London, where a football club is simply a nice addition. For us, it is one of our main economic drivers.

“So taking fans away doesn’t just change the optics of a match, it changes the whole town. It closes hotels, it closes restaurants and it closes pubs. And there is a direct economic cost to the club itself too. Premier League clubs like Burnley are luckier than most football clubs in that they have continued to receive broadcast income, but that doesn’t mean tickets aren’t a vital revenue stream too.”

He continued: “We must get fans back into stadiums across the country though. Not just for the economic impact it has, but for all the other reasons too. The atmosphere, the passion and the impact it has on the grassroots.”

Mr Higginbotham also highlighted the plight of clubs like Burnley FC Women and Padiham FC whose existence is heavily reliant on matchday fan income.

"I recognise the difficulty Government has," he said. "Football matches are, in essence, large gatherings and these normally come with an increased risk.

"But they are also outside, and football clubs are more than able to do what is needed to manage that risk in a safe way."

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston responded: "We want to get fans back as soon as it is safe. That is absolutely the Government’s goal.

"Football clubs, as we have heard again and again today, and in all previous debates on the matter, are at the heart of our communities.

"They have unique social value, and many have rich and honourable histories. As Minister for Sport, I can attest to the importance of football clubs at all levels in their local areas, and to the incredible support that they have offered throughout the pandemic.

"From turning their car parks into NHS testing centres to delivering food packages to those isolating, that has been demonstrated again and again in the last few months."