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A Labour MP steps up his fight for young football fans to get cheap match tickets next week.

Justin Madders wants a new law forcing clubs to offer supporters aged 22 and under discounted entry to games.

He fears youngsters are being priced out of grounds, creating a ticking time bomb for the sport.

His Football Supporters (Access) Bill is due to return to the Commons next Friday - and he called on MPs to back the plan.

Mr Madders told the Mirror: “While our sky-high prices hit those who already attend games, I would argue that we should be more concerned still about the next generation of fans.

(Image: Twitter)

“If we price them out now, we risk empty stadiums in the future, particularly when we look outside of the elite clubs in the Premiership.

“If the Bill becomes law, it would require all football clubs to provide discounted tickets to young people aged under 22.

“While there are many clubs out there doing the right thing, for too many young people, the game is now increasingly out of reach.”

The BBC’s price of football survey for 2016 found the cheapest Premier League match day tickets cost an average of £29.05 while the most expensive average £53.65.

A £30 cap is currently in place on the price of tickets for away fans at top flight games.

But Mr Madders, 44, believes a tough new law is needed to stop greedy clubs preying on the supporters of the future.

The MP for Ellesmere Port in Cheshire said that when he began attending games in the 1980s, “a much higher proportion of match-going fans were younger”.

(Image: Matthew Peters)

Surveys at the time suggested about 20% of match day fans were in the 16-to-20 age group.

According to recent reports that figure has slumped to below 10%, while the average age of a supporter is in the 40s.

Another measure in his Bill would see Premier League clubs set aside a slice of transfer fees to fund community facilities for local clubs and youngsters.

Premier League clubs spent £1.2billion on transfer fees in the last window, Mr Madders said, adding: “A levy of just 0.1% could see an extra £1.2million raised for grassroots football.

“It’s time that we used the fruits of this golden age to help secure the future of football for everyone.”

As fans across the country flock to matches tomorrow, he also highlighted the problem of late kick off times which can cause misery for travelling supporters.

“This has been an issue for years with countless examples of games finishing well after the last possible route home on public transport,” he said.

“The Bill would allow local authorities to consider the needs of match going fans when games are scheduled.”

His Bill is likely to need Government support to become law.