'Our fans and our community are the lifeblood of our club' - Wakefield district football clubs have their say after collapse of European Super League

Proposals for a European Super League were met with widespread criticism and threatened the fabric and future of English football.

It would have meant, on the field, the competitive nature and ability of clubs to progress through the football pyramid was reduced.

Off the field, revenues were in danger of collapsing, which would have a knock-on effect for our communities, not just our clubs.

As a result of the move The Express and sister titles have launched a campaign to support grassroots football.

There has never been a better opportunity to talk about what football – from the top down to the most local level – means to our communities and how to keep it safe.

You can have your say by visiting our website by completing this quick survey.

The survey will take less than a minute to complete.

Frickley Athletic FC told us the strength of feeling about football in the district. In a statement, the club said: “Our fans and our community are the lifeblood of our club.

“If you come to watch a game at Frickley, you can have a beer after the game and talk to the players, and the management teams. You’ll make friends and become a friend of the club.

“You’ll never be a customer or a number.”

In a statement Ossett United said: “Ossett United would like to confirm that we have no interest in the European Super League - we are more ambitious than that – we aim to be founding members of the World Super League.”

Wakefield AFC and Hemsworth Miners Welfare FC also put out statements in opposition to the super league plan.

Normanton, Pontefract and Caslteford MP Yvette Cooper said: "Football should be about fans enjoying the beautiful game, not corporate greed.

"This plan by a small number of clubs for a European Super League is a complete disgrace. It’s a stitch up so that billionaire owners can make more money. It’s completely anti-competitive too as it gives a small number of clubs all the benefits no matter how badly they play. It has to be stopped.

"The Competition and Markets Authority should take action. So too must the Government.

"Ministers have had years to reform football to stop international owners wrecking local clubs and to start putting fans first but they’ve failed to do it. It’s time they took proper action to stop fans and competitive football being sidelined by greed."