Welcoming the Minister for Sport, Tourism, and Civil Society to Bradford’s Karmand Boxing Club, Bradford East MP, Imran Hussain has urged the Government to put greater investment into grassroots sport across the Bradford District.

The visit by the Minister, Stuart Andrew MP followed Imran’s recent question in Parliament to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Michelle Donelan MP over Government funding for grassroots football, cricket and boxing clubs in Bradford, and an invitation for the Minister to come and see first-hand with Imran the work that these clubs do for their local communities.

During the visit, the Minister met with trainers and fighters at the Karmand Centre Boxing Club to discuss the extensive roles that grassroots boxing can play in supporting young people in particular, before meeting with Athletico FC based in Imran’s constituency and with Bradford’s own World Boxing Union Champion Tasif Khan to discuss the importance of Government funding for grassroots clubs.

The Minister’s visit and Imran’s demands for greater investment also comes ahead of the Government’s Sports Strategy which is expected to be announced shortly, and following their meeting, Athletico FC awarded the Minister an honorary team shirt, whilst Tasif Khan presented the Minister with an award for his commitment to supporting home-grown sporting talent.

Speaking on the Sports Minister’s visit to Bradford, Imran said:

“Like many places across the country, sport, whether it be football, cricket, rugby, boxing or any others, is a way of life for people in Bradford, and I was glad to be able to welcome the Sports Minister to Bradford and show him round some of our fantastic local venues, to speak with him about just how important it is for the Government to support our grassroots clubs.

“Whilst they have suffered greatly in recent years after over a decade of brutal cuts, it is our grassroots clubs that are vital to our sporting future as a country, as not only are they the ones encouraging more people to get active and involved in sports, but they’re nurturing our upcoming sporting stars for greatness, and I’m proud to support them in Parliament.

“During the Minister’s visit that followed my question in Parliament, we saw the fantastic work being done at the Karmand Centre Boxing Club, spoke with local league football club Athletico FC’s stars, and discussed the future of boxing with World Boxing Union Champion Tasif Khan, and I look forward to pressing the Minister and the Government further on what more they can do to support our next generation of athletes in Bradford.