Sir Keir Starmer visits Hayden Road

[StaceyH]

I really don’t think any politician is remotely interested in any football club at our level and their ground issues - this was a PR stunt to try to get people voting on Thursday. That’s not necessarily a bad thing and I really hope that people go out and exercise their right to vote.

More importantly, I see no mention anywhere of the Moulton scholars being unbeaten so far this season and making it through to the Dave Joyce Cup Final. News from around the club on the website/socials/1st team programme will also give the club good exposure to the powers that be that will be helpful in the long run.

[bozzer]

I have to agree with the majority on this, a few years after we started the club we had a number of meetings with Peter Bone and in fact ended up getting invited to Downing Street by Tom Pursglove. During that time I put any personal political views to one side for the benefit of the football club.

It’s the same here there is no such thing as bad publicity, as Matt said all candidates were contacted and invited to the club.

[Biggles]

Lets put this in simple terms.

Football - working class and therefore socialist so no one around Hayden road is likley to vote Tory.
Rugby - Middle Class and therefore Tory and Liberals would be all over us if we were a Rugby Club as more likely to vote for them.
Fishing - i do like the thinking of the Looney Party Member, they get my Vote !!!!

So next home game the i fully expect the team to run out to a rendition of 'The Red Flag'

Lets stick together Comrades

[rickthediamond]

All of the candidates were invited, they all had the same opportunity to come and engage with the club and its community. Gen Kitchen seems to be an actual decent human being, which certainly makes a change from what Rushden has been used to in Bone.

[BartonRaz]

As someone with little/no interest or opinion on politics I'm probably not best placed to say this, but I don't really understand how having the likely next PM visit us, meeting some key personnel around the Club, understanding what we do, understanding the issues facing not just our Club but others in the local area and giving us and them the opportunity to speak to people that will be able to influence policy and decision making moving forward, can be viewed negatively. Like it or not, in order to unlock a genuine future for this Club we need these people to understand why having a prosperous AFC Rushden & Diamonds with our own home is a positive for the entire area not just 3-400 people that turn up on a Saturday afternoon. These are essential conversations.

As others have said, everyone was invited. The fact that Labour have taken such a significant interest in what we're doing is on them and isn't indicative of any particular stance from the Club's point of view. The Liberal Democrats visited recently and the Green Party were due to be at the Quorn game last week, which was postponed.

To simply say 'politics has no place in football' is factually incorrect if nothing else. Whilst I was unable to attend yesterday and didn't have any input in the arrangements, I feel a bit sorry for the likes of Rob and Matt having to field complaints whilst taking time off from work to do something that is clearly not only in the best interests of our Club but the local community.

Not to mention the publicity it has generated...

[rickthediamond]

As someone with little/no interest or opinion on politics I'm probably not best placed to say this, but I don't really understand how having the likely next PM visit us, meeting some key personnel around the Club, understanding what we do, understanding the issues facing not just our Club but others in the local area and giving us and them the opportunity to speak to people that will be able to influence policy and decision making moving forward, can be viewed negatively. Like it or not, in order to unlock a genuine future for this Club we need these people to understand why having a prosperous AFC Rushden & Diamonds with our own home is a positive for the entire area not just 3-400 people that turn up on a Saturday afternoon. These are essential conversations.

As others have said, everyone was invited. The fact that Labour have taken such a significant interest in what we're doing is on them and isn't indicative of any particular stance from the Club's point of view. The Liberal Democrats visited recently and the Green Party were due to be at the Quorn game last week, which was postponed.

To simply say 'politics has no place in football' is factually incorrect if nothing else. Whilst I was unable to attend yesterday and didn't have any input in the arrangements, I feel a bit sorry for the likes of Rob and Matt having to field complaints whilst taking time off from work to do something that is clearly not only in the best interests of our Club but the local community.

Not to mention the publicity it has generated...

It really is great for the club, well done to everyone involved, especially Matt & Rob

[Therushden97]

If people genuinely think MP’s have an actual proper interest in local football clubs you are absolutely deluded. Many clubs around the country reach out to their Local Mp’s from ALL parties and are hit with little to no help. To say that Politics and football mix is just to suit your own agenda if Rishi turned up i bet 90% would be absolutely fuming with the club but because it suits your own political views its deemed to be absolutely fine? The club seem to be calling for fans week in week out then go make the decision to alienate a % of fans due to them clearly siding with a certain political party.

[rickthediamond]

If people genuinely think MP’s have an actual proper interest in local football clubs you are absolutely deluded. Many clubs around the country reach out to their Local Mp’s from ALL parties and are hit with little to no help. To say that Politics and football mix is just to suit your own agenda if Rishi turned up i bet 90% would be absolutely fuming with the club but because it suits your own political views its deemed to be absolutely fine? The club seem to be calling for fans week in week out then go make the decision to alienate a % of fans due to them clearly siding with a certain political party.

If the PM decided to ever show up at Hayden Road, I would welcome it. Not because I like him, but because it’s decent exposure. You clearly are either blindsided by your own political interest or have not properly read through any of the replies on the forum! You say the club is ‘clearly siding with a certain political party’, are you being serious??? How many times has it been stated that Brexit Ben, the partner of the disgraced Peter Bone and all other candidates have been invited. Do me a favour jeez!

[Therushden97]

If people genuinely think MP’s have an actual proper interest in local football clubs you are absolutely deluded. Many clubs around the country reach out to their Local Mp’s from ALL parties and are hit with little to no help. To say that Politics and football mix is just to suit your own agenda if Rishi turned up i bet 90% would be absolutely fuming with the club but because it suits your own political views its deemed to be absolutely fine? The club seem to be calling for fans week in week out then go make the decision to alienate a % of fans due to them clearly siding with a certain political party.

If the PM decided to ever show up at Hayden Road, I would welcome it. Not because I like him, but because it’s decent exposure. You clearly are either blindsided by your own political interest or have not properly read through any of the replies on the forum! You say the club is ‘clearly siding with a certain political party’, are you being serious??? How many times has it been stated that Brexit Ben, the partner of the disgraced Peter Bone and all other candidates have been invited. Do me a favour jeez!

No political party should be invited is the point……ridiculous decision to mix the two thing’s.

[rickthediamond]

If people genuinely think MP’s have an actual proper interest in local football clubs you are absolutely deluded. Many clubs around the country reach out to their Local Mp’s from ALL parties and are hit with little to no help. To say that Politics and football mix is just to suit your own agenda if Rishi turned up i bet 90% would be absolutely fuming with the club but because it suits your own political views its deemed to be absolutely fine? The club seem to be calling for fans week in week out then go make the decision to alienate a % of fans due to them clearly siding with a certain political party.

If the PM decided to ever show up at Hayden Road, I would welcome it. Not because I like him, but because it’s decent exposure. You clearly are either blindsided by your own political interest or have not properly read through any of the replies on the forum! You say the club is ‘clearly siding with a certain political party’, are you being serious??? How many times has it been stated that Brexit Ben, the partner of the disgraced Peter Bone and all other candidates have been invited. Do me a favour jeez!

No political party should be invited is the point……ridiculous decision to mix the two thing’s.

When you decide to enter the 21st century, please let us all know