Blackpool CEO calls on football to help out society

Members of Pool’s squad continue to do whatever they can to put a smile on people’s faces, whether that be making a phone call to a supporter in self-isolation or playing a game of FIFA against a young fan.

Mansford believes it’s “incumbent” on the club, and the sport as a whole, to provide help and support in any way possible.

The club’s chief executive said: “I’m attached to the players’ WhatsApp group at the moment, I want to get off that group as soon as I can!

“But in all seriousness, the level of energy from the players to do their bit, whether it’s to make a call, whether it’s play FIFA against someone, whether it’s to kick a toilet roll, it’s absolutely incumbent on us to do it and I’m absolutely delighted we have a set of staff and a set of players who truly appreciate it and want to act their part.

“Football and sport in general, but definitely football in our country, is such a huge part of the social fabric.

“At times like this, certain rivalries can be put to one side. You see the two Manchester clubs, for example, always come together at times like this. You saw it after the Manchester bombing as well.

“Football is such a huge part of the social fabric of our country that it does transcend a lot of generations, so I think it’s so important football plays its part.

“The government will want football, and all sport, to make itself available because we all want to be able to tune in and have that distraction and have a release or an exit from what are very tough times for a lot of people right now.

“I hope we’ve been able to keep people as stimulated and as interested as possible, but more importantly come out of it and be a part of what will hopefully be a feelgood factor once we overcome these testing times.”