On Thursday 2nd March Cambridge United fans joined with supporters from over 30 other fans' groups at Parliament to urge M.Ps to support Early Day Motion 243, and Brian Attmore, Chairman of the Cambridge United Supporters Association, has supplied this report:

The day organised by the Coalition of Football Supporters asked for two main things. Firstly, that the government adopt the majority Football Task Force report, which asks for the appointment of a Football Audit Commission, an ‘Ombudsfan’ to investigate fans’ complaints and a Clubs’ Code of Conduct and, secondly, that they support the Fan’s TV Charter.

As we congregated outside Parliament it soon became evident that the eight United fans present made the Cambridge United one of the best - if not the best - represented Club amongst the 100 or so supporters assembled. Clubs represented included Barnet, Portsmouth, Watford, Exeter, Sunderland, Manchester United, Liverpool, Wycombe, Stoke, Oxford and Everton.

Whilst a Press Conference took place inside the House of Commons, a photo-shoot took place on College Green with Big Ben in the background. The resulting team photo showed fans proudly wearing their Club’s shirts in an array of colour against a background of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Pride of place at the front, as witnessed by viewers on Sky News later that day, was Lucinda Matthew-Jones holding a Cambridge United scarf for all to see.

We then all proceeded to the Jubilee Room of the Commons for a meeting of M.Ps, fans groups and representatives from the media. Speeches and discussions then took place over the need for fans to get government action NOW before football distances itself any further from its supporters.

Whilst this took place some of us met with the Cambridge M.P Anne Campbell in the Central Lobby for a prearranged audience. This was a cordial, frank and enlightening discussion covering the matter of the day and the redevelopment of our beloved Abbey Stadium - an issue of even more pressing importance to us.

On the issue of the Task Force Report she assured us that she would read it and pass her comments onto Kate Hoey, the Sports Minister. The importance of football and Cambridge United to the well-being of both the City, its residents and the surrounding region was in no doubt. We passed on thanks from fellow supporters to the M.P. for her public show of support to United’s crucial plans, discussed the political reaction to this and urged her to follow the issue through to a successful conclusion.

The advice we were given was that personal letters from fans to the John Prescott, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions would be most effective and assist the cause when the issue of land use change if sent by the City Council for the approval of his government department. She herself is not allowed to approach the Minister on this issue but would be prepared if she was approached by him to comment.

Many constructive points were made and we were heartened by the warmth of her willingness to listen, the sincerity of her concern and desire to achieve a satisfactory development. She seemed to be very interested in our thoughts for the need to pursue achieving better signposting to the ground, both for roads and cycleways, ways to car share and improving the facilities for visitors to our City. The CUSA will be reviving our previous attempts to achieve this in light of the prevailing common ground to aid the traffic situation.

We rejoined the fans’ meeting as it broke up and remained in the Jubilee Room whilst supporters of other Clubs went to lobby their own M.Ps. At this point Andrew Lansley, M.P. for South West Cambridgeshire and James Paice the M.P. for South East Cambridgeshire kindly joined us for a private discussion on the same topics.

They acknowledged the existence of problems in football and the fans’ concerns for its future, expressing the view that football should sort itself out rather than have an imposed political solution. They felt that statutory backing could be given if things went well. As Shadow Cabinet Ministers they are unable to make public comments on it as this would be construed as party policy when in fact there was no policy.

They both agreed with the need for Cambridge to have a professional football ground in keeping with the prestige, excellence and needs of the City in a region that was so fast growing and much admired throughout the country. We fully appreciated them listening and discussing our concerns and again constructive agreement was reached on the traffic and signposting issues. They appeared warm to the idea of park and ride helping the situation on matchdays. On behalf of their many constituents who follow the Club it was pleasing to know that our many comments were listened to and noted.

On a personal note the day finished with the unforgettable experience of viewing the Commons from the Strangers’ Gallery whilst statements were made on the Pinochet issue. I then retired to the neighbouring Red Lion pub to discuss football with other passionate, motivated fans and further strengthened our links with like-minded friends.

I would like to thank the McNallys, Kev Ferris, Janet Williams, Dave Matthew-Jones and Lucinda and Father Shabooboo who accompanied me and contributed so well on the day and were such a credit to Cambridge United and the Supporters’ Association.

Brian Attmore
Chairman Cambridge United Supporters' Association