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Football and politics intertwined

Why should the affairs of a Northern League club attract the attention of the national press, specifically The Times? Well, because they provide an opportunity to attack Jeremy Corbyn.

Ashington have made use of financial support from a development corporation owned by the local Labour-led council. More than £1m was spent on a 250-seater stand and clubhouse. This worked out at a higher cost per seat than any Premier League club except Arsenal's Emirates stadium. Two of the club's staff were paid for by the council's development company, Arch, which also paid the club £39,000 for tables at dinners, Christmas entertaining and utility bills.

The club had moved out of the town centre (reminiscent of a play I saw about a non-league club I had seen in London last year). It argued that what was being provided was a community facility in one of the most deprived areas of the country.

The chairman of the club was Ian Lavery, the MP for Wansbeck and chairman of the Labour Party, described by The Times 'as a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn.' He has now stepped down from his role as chairman of the football club, citing the pressures of his 'day job': Chairman appointed

Views will differ on events like this according to personal political perspectives, but it does show how football and politics can become intertwined.

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