Stockport County Community Foundation has been named in an Early Day Motion in Parliament congratulating all 72 Football League clubs for their work in the community.

The Early Day Motion (EDM) recognises the power of Football League clubs, such as Stockport County, to improve their local communities, and congratulates them on delivering a wide range of community related projects that have engaged more than 1.5million people in the last 12 months.

Ann Coffey, MP for Stockport, said: "For many people in the UK football is an important part of everyday life and local teams play an important role in the development of community spirit. The Football League Trust has been able to use the unique place football has in our society as a vehicle to develop positive community relations and help people realise the potential in their own aspirations. The work done by groups such as the Stockport County Community Foundation in encouraging young people to believe in themselves and be proud of the community they are from, should never be underestimated and we need to find more ways of supporting projects like those run by the SCCF to develop community relations further."

Local MP Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, added his support, saying: "As a keen football fan myself, and a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on football, I'm well aware of the important work done by The Football League Trust. Football clubs are a vital part of the local community for many people and I know Stockport County have a track record to be proud of in this regard. I very much hope it will soon be matched by success on the pitch as well!"

Mark Maguire, acting Managing Director of Stockport County FC, said: "We are delighted to have been recognised in this way by Parliament. It is a major boost for our community team who work tirelessly seven days a week to improve the lives of local residents. Carrying out a diverse range of projects throughout Stockport, Tameside, High Peak and Cheshire"

Gavin Megaw, Director of External Affairs for The Football League, added: "Football League clubs are working at the heart of their communities up and down the country and it is great to see them get such deserved recognition in Parliament. Football has a power to make a difference, and we are very proud of the positive work all our 72 clubs do in engaging over one and a half million people every year."

The Early Day Motion, numbered 658, was tabled by Chloe Smith MP (Norwich North) and is transcribed below. It has cross-party support from all sides of the House of Commons.

The Work of the Football League Trust
"That this House congratulates The Football League Trust for its work at the heart of 72 communities across England and Wales; notes the work of Football League clubs in delivering positive outcomes on major social issues such as health, education, social cohesion and sports participation to more than 1.5million people in the last 12 months; and recognises that the power of football is being used to improve the local community at Accrington Stanley, AFC Bournemouth, Aldershot Town, Barnet, Barnsley, Blackpool, Bradford City, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Burton Albion, Bury, Cardiff City, Carlisle United, Charlton Athletic, Cheltenham Town, Chesterfield, Colchester United, Coventry City, Crewe Alexandra, Crystal Palace, Dagenham & Redbridge, Darlington, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Gillingham, Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United, Hereford United, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Leyton Orient, Leicester City, Lincoln City, Macclesfield Town, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Milton Keynes Dons, Morecambe, Newcastle United, Northampton Town, Norwich City, Notts County, Nottingham Forest, Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Port Vale, Preston North End , Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Rochdale, Rotherham United, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town, Southampton, Southend United, Stockport County, Swansea City, Swindon Town, Tranmere Rovers, Torquay United, Walsall, Watford, West Bromwich Albion, Wycombe Wanderers and Yeovil Town."