Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Paul MacInnes

UK government urged to harness football clubs for ‘social connection’

A Brentford fan shows their support from the stands prior to the Premier League match against Aston Villa.
British Future worked with Brentford in running pilot campaigns to trial the approach with three distinct groups of people. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The increasing cultural significance of football clubs means they should be harnessed by government to develop “social connection” within communities, a new report claims.

The popularity of the national sport among all sections of society and strong links between local teams and community identity mean clubs are well placed to spread messages of inclusion, bringing together communities that might otherwise not interact, the study argues.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.