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As signings go it didn’t make the back pages of the papers.

But when Bury bought me from Winsford United for the princely sum of £6,000 37 years ago, I was on my way.

During my teenage years I worked as a binman, waiter and hod carrier. But they were just jobs to subsidise my love of the game, keeping me going so I could continue to play football. To finally get paid for doing something I love was a huge bonus.

But the Beautiful Game has started to lose its looks.

The billions from Sky and other broadcasters may have transformed the English game and made the Premier League a global brand.

It may have tempted some of the most talented players to our shores.

(Image: PA)

But clubs outside the top flight didn’t share the wealth.

And fans didn’t get the best of deals either.

That’s why I’m fully behind Labour’s plans to deliver a better deal for clubs and fans alike.

Corbyn will ensure 5% of the Premier League’s domestic and international television rights income goes to the grassroots game.

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This will make an enormous contribution to helping the next generation of players and coaches by drastically improving facilities and pitches.

Labour will also work with train operating companies, broadcasters and clubs to develop a new ‘Flexible Football Ticket’ so when games are switched at short notice, fans won’t have to fork out again for new train tickets.

(Image: Daily Mirror)

Takeovers can be the start of an exciting new futures for clubs, but sometimes they can go wrong. Corbyn will put fans at the heart of their clubs by giving accredited supporters trusts the power to appoint and remove at least two club directors and purchase shares when clubs change hands.

Labour also plans to fix the broken ticketing market. Too often fans are shut out as professional ticket touts buy up thousands of match tickets and sell them on at huge prices. Labour will make sure there are fair opportunities for fans to buy tickets.

And a Corbyn Government will make sure stadiums are accessible for disabled fans. Labour will speed up accessibility improvements to make sure everyone can attend matches and support their teams.

I might have been a Blue Nose all my life.

But on June 8 I’ll be a die-hard red. I’ll be backing the man who wants to make the Game Beautiful again.

A game that can be enjoyed by the many not the few.