Shadow Secretary of State for Sports and Culture, Thangam Debbonaire MP, joined Forest Green chairman Dale Vince at the New Lawn today, Saturday.
To mark the lead up to the big Green Football Weekend (GFW) on 2-5 February, Dale and the Shadow Secretary of State joined hundreds of children wearing GFW T-shirts on the North Stand.
The GFW is the biggest football and climate campaign ever staged. It’s an annual event to unleash the power of football to tackle climate change.
Shadow Secretary of State for Sports and Culture, Thangam Debbonaire MP said: “Football fans have a strong record of making change whether with club outreach programmes in their own communities or on issues of national importance. It’s great to see clubs across the country, like Forest Green Rovers, coming together for climate and nature in Green Football Weekend. Labour will consider how through better reporting, research and guidance we can unleash the power of football to tackle climate change and improve fan experience.
“Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak continues to break his promises to football fans by failing to introduce a new law to regulate football governance. If the Tories keep dragging their feet, the next Labour Government will step up in the interests of fans, players and clubs and bring forward legislation for a strong independent football regulator.”
Dale Vince said: “We welcome the Shadow Secretary to Forest Green Rovers for our first match with our new manager. Football is under threat, not just from rogue owners and breakaway leagues, but also from the climate crisis. Games are being cancelled up and down the country, half of England’s professional clubs face chaos from torrential rain, floods, droughts and windstorms.
“Green Football Weekend is about reaching football fans and showing them what they can do to hep – this year our focus is on food. What we choose to eat is the easiest and most impactful thing we can all do, to tackle the climate crisis. While football has a vital role to play in the move to net zero and needs to become more sustainable itself. The current government, can we call them a caretaker government? are intent on missing an open goal – by not building sustainability into the remit of football’s new regulator.”
