2024 General Election - Robins Trust Hustings
Ahead of next week’s General Election in the UK, we asked all of the candidates standing in the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury constituencies to answer a series of questions related to Cheltenham Town Football Club and the wider world of professional football in the country.
(Candidates for the Cheltenham seat are listed first, followed by the Tewkesbury seat. Candidates are listed alphabetically based on surname).
List of Candidates (click on the link to go directly to their answers)
Cheltenham
Max Wilkinson - Liberal Democrats
Tewkesbury
Byron Clifford Davis - Reform UK
David Edgar - Christian Peoples Alliance
Lawrence Robertson - Conservative
Cameron Thomas - Liberal Democrat
Cheltenham
Alex Chalk - Conservative permalink
Are you a football fan, and which team do you support?
I follow football, but I would never claim to be an expert fan. I read the sports pages daily on my phone to see how teams I'm interested in, like CTFC, are getting on, but sadly I rarely get to watch a game in person.
As a child in the 1980s I collected Panini stickers and developed a soft spot for Spurs, so I lightly support them. As well as CTFC, I also follow QPR, as I lived near Loftus Road for a while when I was building my career as a barrister in London.
What do you see as Cheltenham Town Football Club’s role in the town and the constituency community?
CTFC makes a massive contribution to our community, including in particular through its Education & Sporting Trust. I hugely admire in particular how CTFC uses its status with young people to help keep them engaged with education, particularly important post-Covid when school attendance remains far too low.
I also appreciate CTFC allowing Whaddon Road to be used each year for the Cheltenham Youth Football League, where I've presented trophies. It's clear the youngsters get a real thrill from being on the hallowed turf (as well they might!), and it's to the club's great credit that they get that opportunity.
What are your views on fan-ownership and representation at board level for professional football clubs?
It's a tricky one. It really depends on the club. What works for CTFC might very well not work for, say, Manchester City.
A club owned by the local community is better placed to develop closer and stronger partnerships with local authorities, and can attract certain niche types of investment. It's also great for community cohesion and for creating a local bond between fan and club, which in turn can unlock personal investment from committed supporters.
There are potential downsides though. All clubs need to pay the bills, and if the local pool of supporters is limited, that in turn can make it more difficult for the club to progress. There's also a danger of having to fall back on the support of particularly wealthy individuals to plug shortfalls.
In a nutshell, there are pros and cons. One size doesn't fit all.
Do you support the Football Governance Bill, would you vote for it in its current form or are there areas that you think should be amended (if so, what would you amend)?
Yes. The Football Governance Bill which will establish a new independent football regulator, putting fans back at the heart of football and helping to deliver a sustainable future for all clubs. It will address issues of financial sustainability and have powers to monitor and enforce compliance with requirements in financial regulation, corporate governance, club ownership, approved competitions, and fan engagement and club heritage protection. Importantly the regulator will set a minimum standard of fan engagement, which clubs will need to demonstrate they meet, and will require the support of a majority of fans for any changes to the club’s badge, name or home shirt colours. Too often, some owners have forgotten that they are only the custodians of their club, responsible for just one chapter in its history. With that in mind, the regulator will also establish new, strengthened owners’ and directors’ tests, thereby protecting fans from irresponsible owners.
A priority for Cheltenham Town Football Club is the development of a new main stand and securing funding for the re-development (a project likely to cost around £10 million). If you were the MP for Cheltenham, what would you do to advocate for and support this re-development? Would finding a solution be one of your priorities?
First of all I'd work collaboratively with the Club to create a plan. If I start a campaign, I intend to succeed; and successful campaigns, like our one to get the Air Balloon investment over the line or to get a new school built in Cheltenham, require meticulous planning.
Getting investment for Cheltenham is something I am passionate about, and I hope I can fairly point to considerable success on this score - from securing over £45m for Cheltenham's cyber park to getting Severn Trent to shell out £0.5m to install a new engineering system to help clean up the River Chelt. If CTFC want to send me into action, I will be a passionate campaigner deploying all my professional and political experience to help make it happen.
Is there anything else you’d like to add on the subject of football?
No, I think that covers it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to answer your questions.
Lara Chaplin - Labour permalink
Did not respond to our survey
Daud McDonald - Independent permalink
I’m not a commercial football fan at all, I don’t even understand offside!
I’d like to see investment in local low division teams and see football used more in tackling antisocial behaviour and teams like The Robins being supported more in their local outreach work.
I’d also love it if the Robins were a fan owned team they are a great asset to Cheltenham
Max Wilkinson - Liberal Democrats permalink
Are you a football fan, and which team do you support?
I have been a football fan for as long as I can remember. I am a Southampton supporter, but the team I watch most often is Cheltenham Town. Having said that, my attendance at games has been much reduced since my wife and I had a baby 21 months ago! I’ve been to more than 50 football league grounds, mostly while watching Southampton, in addition to quite a few non-league and overseas grounds. I also followed England home and away during the qualifying campaign for the 2008 European Championships, including the away game in Zagreb when Paul Robinson missed the ball, leading to an own goal, and the famous “Wally With the Brolly” defeat at Wembley. The last game I attended was the recent Championship Play-Off final – it was the only day off I’ve had since the start of the General Election campaign. For the past few years, I have sponsored a player at Cheltenham Town Women’s FC. For a few years, I was a freelance match reporter for Sportsbeat, a press agency based in London.
What do you see as Cheltenham Town Football Club's role in the town and the constituency community?
Football clubs should be at the heart of the social infrastructure of their community. I believe that Cheltenham Town is a good example of a community-facing football club and the work of the Robins Trust has clearly made a difference. In time, I believe redevelopment in and around the ground can support this work.
What are your views on fan-ownership and representation at board level for professional football clubs?
Fan representation should be built into the system, but in an ideal world things would be much more progressive than that. I believe that the German model of ownership, with fans central to the running of clubs, provides an option for securing long-term sustainability for English football.
Do you support the Football Governance Bill, would you vote for it in its current form or are there areas that you think should be amended (if so, what would you amend)?
I’m broadly supportive of the general direction of the Bill, but it can go further. A fan-led review reported in November 2021 but the Government has been slow to act on its recommendations. Liberal Democrats believe that the only way to secure the overall health of English football is for the Government to ensure that there is an independent financial regulator for all professional leagues and clubs. The demise of several much-loved football league clubs over recent years (Bury is an example) has highlighted the inadequacy of the current arrangements. Liberal Democrats would ensure a sustainable future for football clubs and give fans a stronger voice by:
Establishing the promised new independent regulator, placing it on a statutory footing, and giving it the power to impose a fairer financial flow that rewards well-run clubs. Strengthening the propriety test for prospective owners and directors by including human rights questions.
Requiring all clubs to have equality, diversity and inclusion action plans.
A priority for Cheltenham Town Football Club is the development of a new main stand and securing funding for the re-development (a project likely to cost around £10 million). If you were the MP for Cheltenham, what would you do to advocate for and support this re-development? Would finding a solution be one of your priorities?
As the former councillor for Oakley ward, which covers Whaddon Road, I was in fairly regular contact with various people at the Football Club over a number of years. I have good knowledge of the site and a broad understanding of the club’s future development ambitions. I am also aware of the potential constraints. This provides a good grounding for how I would support the club in its ambitions for the future. MPs are forced to juggle multiple priorities, but the club and the Robins Trust should be assured that I will be a sympathetic ear and a supporter, rather than a passive bystander or opponent.
Is there anything else you'd like to add on the subject of football?
First game – Tottenham Hotspur v Man City at White Hart Lane. It was sometime in 1991, for a friend’s sixth birthday.
First England game – England v Brazil at the old Wembley stadium. Gary Lineker missed a ‘Panenka’ style penalty. I think Tony Daly played.
Favourite away day pub – The Wellington, Birmingham
Favourite non-league ground – The Meadow, Brimscombe and Thrupp
Favourite player – Matt Le Tissier, but his political views remain his own and not my cup of tea.
Best player I’ve ever seen live – can’t decide between Zidane and Messi
Favourite away day – Carlisle United 1-1 Southampton. Radhi Jaidi scored a 96th minute equaliser.
Worst football experience – Croatia 2-0 England. Gary Neville scored a freak own goal and we were kept in the stadium for two hours after the final whistle. I then had to sleep on the floor of the airport in Budapest.
Best football achievement – top scorer for Milton Nomads under-10s, 1994.
Football fact about me – I once scored from the half-way line against the Japanese Society in the Cardiff university football league.
Daniel Wilson - Green Party permalink
Are you a football fan, and which team do you support?
I am a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan, but I watch more games at Whaddon Road or the New Lawn in Nailsworth than I do getting to the City Ground these days.
What do you see as Cheltenham Town Football Club’s role in the town and the constituency community?
Football clubs play a crucial role for each community the serve - football reinforces identity, belonging, community and plays a huge role in inspiring physical activity and more recently mental wellbeing upon men in particular
What are your views on fan-ownership and representation at board level for professional football clubs?
I fully support this. I am against clubs being bought up by overseas investors who care little about the community or the club. Perhaps Wrexham is the exception to that rule - but the more we can do to involve fans in ownership and the running of the club the better the club.
Do you support the Football Governance Bill, would you vote for it in its current form or are there areas that you think should be amended (if so, what would you amend)?
One downside of the election was the suspension of the bill passing through parliament. I would support the bill in its current form.
A priority for Cheltenham Town Football Club is the development of a new main stand and securing funding for the re-development (a project likely to cost around £10 million). If you were the MP for Cheltenham, what would you do to advocate for and support this re-development? Would finding a solution be one of your priorities?
As a football fan it would be easy to say yes to your question. I would certainly support any local investment in the club. As for a priority, I would have to be honest with you and say it probably would not be one of my priorities. Trying to rid poverty from the town, funding the public services including the NHS and doing more to limit climate change are my immediate aims.
Is there anything else you’d like to add on the subject of football?
The round ball is better than an oval one! Not always a popular view in Gloucestershire!
Tewkesbury
Damola Animashaun - Labour permalink
Did not respond to our survey
Byron Clifford Davis - Reform UK permalink
Are you a football fan, and which team do you support?
Yes, I am a football fan. I have always had a deep appreciation for the sport and its ability to bring people together. While my primary allegiance is to the local team, Cheltenham Town, I also enjoy watching other clubs and leagues to appreciate the game more broadly.
What do you see as Cheltenham Town Football Club’s role in the town and the constituency community?
Cheltenham Town Football Club is a cornerstone of our community. It provides not only entertainment and a sense of pride but also fosters community spirit, encourages local engagement, and offers social and economic benefits to the area. The club’s activities bring people together, support local businesses, and provide opportunities for young people to get involved in sports.
What are your views on fan-ownership and representation at board level for professional football clubs?
I strongly support fan-ownership and representation at the board level. Fans are the lifeblood of any football club, and having a voice in its governance ensures that the club's interests align with those of its supporters. This model promotes transparency, accountability, and sustainability, ensuring that decisions are made with the community in mind.
Do you support the Football Governance Bill, would you vote for it in its current form, or are there areas that you think should be amended?
I am in favour of the Football Governance Bill as it aims to improve the regulation and oversight of football clubs, ensuring financial stability and protecting the heritage of clubs for future generations. However, I believe it's essential to continuously review and refine the bill to address any emerging issues and ensure it effectively serves the interests of clubs and fans alike.
A priority for Cheltenham Town Football Club is the development of a new main stand and securing funding for the re-development (a project likely to cost around £10 million). If you were the MP for Tewkesbury, what would you do to advocate for and support this re-development? Would finding a solution be one of your priorities?
If elected as MP for Tewkesbury, I would make the re-development of Cheltenham Town Football Club’s main stand a priority. I would work closely with the MP for Cheltenham, the club, local authorities, and potential investors to secure the necessary funding. Advocating for grants and exploring public-private partnerships would be key strategies to support this important project, ensuring it benefits both the club and the wider community.
Is there anything else you’d like to add on the subject of football?
Football is more than just a sport; it is a powerful community builder and a source of joy and inspiration for many. As an MP, I would strive to support not only Cheltenham Town Football Club but also grassroots football initiatives to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate and enjoy the beautiful game.
Cate Cody - Green Party permalink
Did not respond to our survey
David Edgar - Christian Peoples Alliance permalink
Did not respond to our survey
Laurence Robertson - Conservative permalink
Are you a football fan, and which team do you support?
Yes I am. I always watched Bolton Wanderers as a youngster, and was disappointed that they did not secure promotion to the Championship this season!
What do you see as Cheltenham Town Football Club’s role in the town and the constituency community?
I see all football clubs, including Cheltenham Town, as very important parts of the communities. People can go to the matches, but as well as that can associate with the club in different ways. I think that's a really good thing.
What are your views on fan-ownership and representation at board level for professional football clubs?
I'm not sure about this. It would depend how the right fans would be appointed or elected. For all its faults, we do have outstanding football leagues in this country. But if fan involvement could further improve this, why not?
Do you support the Football Governance Bill, would you vote for it in its current form or are there areas that you think should be amended (if so, what would you amend)?
To some extent, yes. I have some concerns about the football regulator role. Who would this person, or people, be? How would they be appointed? Would they hold a great deal of power, and, if so, what if they were not that good - would football suffer significant damage? There are some things which need fixing - proper owners, financial rules and so on - but to some extent I remain to be convinced that the regulator idea is the best way forward. I've spoken to the Premier League and also football clubs on this matter a number of times.
A priority for Cheltenham Town Football Club is the development of a new main stand and securing funding for the re-development (a project likely to cost around £10 million). If you were the MP for Tewkesbury, what would you do to advocate for and support this re-development? Would finding a solution be one of your priorities?
I'd be happy to get involved and help. The club is sited in Cheltenham constituency, and I'm standing in Tewkesbury, but there is overlap as far as supporters are concerned.
Is there anything else you’d like to add on the subject of football?
I think improvements can be made, but as the old saying goes, we must be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Cameron Thomas - Liberal Democrat permalink
Are you a football fan, and which team do you support?
I am a very big football fan. I am primarily a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, as painful as that often is. I managed to get to a few games while we were playing at Wembley Stadium, including a Champions League victory against Borussia Dortmund. I also watched us sink Manchester City at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a few seasons back.
My 2nd team (sacrilege to some, I know) is Plymouth Argyle, and I watched them play at Whaddon Road a few seasons ago over the Christmas period. I've watched Argyle at Whaddon Road on at least 2 occasions down the years. My attachment to Argyle stems from my family connections to Plymouth.
You might find it interesting to know that I have a personal connection to Cheltenham Town FC. As a child, the sister of Michael and Shane Duff childminded my brother and I for a day. Their father John was a friend of my own father, as they served together at RAF Brize Norton. John took my brother and I to watch Michael play, when he must have been in his mid-to-late teens. Small world!
What do you see as Cheltenham Town Football Club’s role in the town and the constituency community?
Football Clubs across the country are a significant focal point in their communities, and Cheltenham Town FC is no different. Any organisation which can attract thousands of local residents, bring them hope, a sense of belonging and a sense of community has an important role to play, and I have seen first hand that Cheltenham Town FC has such an impact.
What are your views on fan-ownership and representation at board level for professional football clubs?
My view of fan-ownership and board-level representation are that it is far preferable to State-level ownership or international corporate ownership. Fan-ownership comes with its own challenges, particularly given the importance of financial strength. I suppose the ideal compromise might be board-level representation which involves those who care deeply about the success and direction of the club.
Do you support the Football Governance Bill, would you vote for it in its current form or are there areas that you think should be amended (if so, what would you amend)?
I am not familiar with the Football Governance Bill.
A priority for Cheltenham Town Football Club is the development of a new main stand and securing funding for the re-development (a project likely to cost around £10 million). If you were the MP for Tewkesbury, what would you do to advocate for and support this re-development? Would finding a solution be one of your priorities?
I am not standing for election in Cheltenham. The Cheltenham Wards of Prestbury, Springbank, Swindon Village and part of Hester's Way will be voting in Tewkesbury Constituency, where I am standing for election. That said, Cheltenham Town is the nearest 'big' football club to Tewkesbury Constituency, and has a significant societal role to play on our side of the boundary.
Is there anything else you’d like to add on the subject of football?
COYS.