MANCHESTER UNITED BOSS Sir Alex Ferguson could soon find himself being appointed to the UK’s House of Lords, if two MPs from Manchester get their way.
Graham Stringer, an MP for Blackley and Broughton, says it is “ludicrous” that no former soccer players or managers are part of the House of Lords, given the sport’s massive role in British society and culture.
As a result, he wants to set about bringing footballing experience into parliament – and hopes to begin doing so by having the Manchester United and former Aberdeen boss added to the membership of the Lords.
He has tabled an Early Day Motion which has also been signed by another Manchester MP, Tony Lloyd, calling on the government to acknowledge Ferguson’s role in modern football by giving him a peerage and making him a member of the upper house.
“Football is no longer just the working man’s game – it permeates every level of society,” Stringer told the Manchester Evening News. “You can’t go anywhere without having a conversation about what’s happening in football. It’s a national obsession.”
The Lords is already home to many novelists and actors, he added – saying there was no reason for that theme not to be extended to football.
‘Politics, eh? Bloody ‘ell’
Early Day Motions do not usually gain enough traction to be debated in full in parliament and are rarely passed, but merely form a way of allowing MPs to register their official support for a particular cause.
An EDM is usually debated only if the government of the day is happy to do so, but can be passed without ever being discussed on the floor. In Ferguson’s case it’s not likely to be passed because he’s a Labour supporter, and Labour are significantly out muscled in the Commons by the coalition of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
If he was appointed, Ferguson would be allowed to choose which title he adopted: he could opt to become Baron Ferguson of Govan, in honour of his native Glasgow suburb, or could potentially opt to instead be known by his more recent Mancunian roots and become Baron Ferguson of Old Trafford.
Fergie, 69, is the most successful manager in English football history having won a record 12 league titles, FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League titles.
In 1999 he led United to an unprecedented treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League victories – earning himself a knighthood as a result.
He will mark 25 years at the helm at Old Trafford this November.
Well done Meath. Great game. Excellent advertisement for Ladies GAA.
Hard luck, Kayleigh, and the rest of the Kerry team. Better luck next year.
@Padraig O Muirthile: the skill in that game was better than any game in gaa this year hurling football or whatever
Fabulous game, that’s a great Meath team. A joy to watch their passing, no glory hunters, all full team players.
Congratulations great game of football
@Derek hutchings: Not sure about it being a great game. Outside of their opening burst of scores Kerry only scored 5 times for the rest of the game. That’s about 1 score every 10 minutes.
Super defensive showing by Meath but Kerry looked decidedly naive. Kerry will learn from today (both management & players) and will be better if they reach the final again next year.
Am I the the only one who thought referee was officious and ruined many aspects of the game by not applying the advantage. It was a great game which could have been much better if allowed flow.
@Liam O’Flaherty: Maggie does always try make the game about her. When she does linesperson the ref spends most of the game getting called over by Maggie.
@Michael Anthony: as a neutral I thought she ruined what could have been a classic. Both teams must have been frustrated by her.
@Liam O’Flaherty: I thought that as well I think the GAA need to change some of the rules like not been able to do a fair shoulder and tackle a player most of those players if not all go to the gym so would be able for the rough and tumble of the game that’s what ruined it for me
Some team
Great game much better fare than last week
Congrats to meath. Was I the only one who thought it was a poor game
Time to split Meath
@Glen Durney: We could call them Meath & Westmeath
@Cian Mac Eoin: what about East Meath?
@Eugene O Doherty: north Meath. Capital oldcastle
In the first minute Farrelly gave 2 frees against Meath for charging and both were blatant trips. She kept this consistency up throughout the game and did her best to ruin it. It’s almost like a feather in cap for ladies football refs to send Vicki Wall off. Gets pulled and dragged all day, every day and gets sin binned for the abuse she takes.
Great game, thought Emma Duggan was unlucky not to get player of the game
It’s time to split Meath. East Meath and… oh hold on
That’s the tender Palace niteclub ruined again overrun again by red face, un-maked-up ‘ladies’ of sport wearing their sports kit on ze dance floor.