Marcus Rashford: 'The ‘stick to football’ advice doesn’t cut it where I’m from'

National Food Strategy
Marcus Rashford
PA
Tom Ambrose @tomambrose899 September 2021

Marcus Rashford has said he will keep fighting to end child food poverty in Britain, hitting back at those who tell him to “stick to football”.

The England and Manchester United footballer has led several high-profile campaigns to end child hunger, including successfully lobbying the government to provide free meals during the summer holidays.

This week he asked the public to write to their MP to support recommendations to end the “child hunger pandemic”.

Writing in The Spectator, he said it would be a “disservice” to his family and community if he were to stop his campaigning efforts.

He said: “Disappointingly for some, the 'stick to football' advice doesn't cut it where I'm from.

“See, when my community had nothing to call their own, they always found something in the way of kindness to give me.

“I am a product of their compassion, of their drive and of their willingness to offer me more than what was on my doorstep.

“I'd be doing that community and my family a disservice if I did not use my platform to speak on behalf of the millions whose voices are not being heard."

Earlier this year he became the youngest person to top the Sunday Times Giving List, receiving widespread praise and was awarded an MBE in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

But now he is calling for people to not give up the fight, describing the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic as having “long-term effects” on families and communities.

“Party politics has never interested me. What interests me is working together to find sustainable solutions,” Rashford said.

“The long-term effects of a global pandemic will not be resolved with short-term relief packages.

“So it's time for us all to unite with the passion we saw during the Euros and make sure every child in this country is given a fair chance, and that child hunger is eradicated.

“No child should be starting 20 yards behind any other just because of the community they live in. It's time to level up.”

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