Political football

Sport has shown me success is not about quick wins but collective effort

- Jason Stockwood

In May 2021, Andrew Pettit and I took on what would prove to be one of the hardest challenges of our lives when we bought our home-town club, Grimsby Town. The difficulty wasn't just in turning the club around, it was in grappling with an economic system that simply doesn't work. Most importantly, and unlike the business world we come from, the stakeholders are not abstracted customers but our family, friends and the wider community of which we are part.

Football isn't just a game, it offers a sense of history, rootedness and connection far beyond what happens for 90 minutes on any given Saturday. It's a crucible for human stories, a reflection of society and an arena where ambition, frustration, identity and community collide. This sense of identity is not only shaped by who we are but by what we oppose. Opposition, in sport and in life, can provide clarity and purpose, but the way in which we engage with those we oppose defines us. Holding different views or challenging authority is essential for progress in our politics as well. When opposition descends into "othering", it diminishes everyone. It's not just harmful to those we target but it erodes our own humanity.

This perspective is what led to me buying into the club and helping with the other community projects in our town and it has now influenced my decision to venture into politics. Over the past decade, the divisiveness of political debate has disturbed and frustrated me. The ability to build a better future depends on how well we can come together, even when we disagree.