My Lords, in moving Amendment 20, I will speak also to my Amendment 22. These amendments, while technical in nature, address some important issues underpinning the Bill: the preservation of integrity, clarity and fairness in football governance across the whole nation, alongside the safeguarding of competition and community interests.

My amendments are necessary on the basis that the English football pyramid is littered with examples of English teams playing in Welsh or Scottish league systems, or vice versa. I understand that Cardiff City FC has played in the English football pyramid for 104 years, famously winning the FA Cup in 1927, and, more recently, reaching the FA Cup final in 2008. Its participation in the English football pyramid does not make Cardiff an English club—at least, it would take a very bold person to say that to a group of Cardiff fans.

Similarly, in the case of Wrexham AFC, as I am sure that many noble Lords are aware and have been aware for longer than I have, Wrexham has been in the English football system even longer than Cardiff, having joined an early English football league known as the Combination as far back as 1890. It is, proudly, the third-oldest professional association football team in the world. Although the club has suffered from financial hardship down the years, Wrexham has recently had new life breathed into it by its purchase four years ago by the Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds and the American actor Rob McElhenney. The attendant publicity from the docuseries “Welcome to Wrexham” had a significant impact on the club’s renown, leading to it acquiring a new, global fanbase, without precedent for a team that was in the fifth division at that point. I had the pleasure of visiting its Racecourse Ground when the club was supporting Wrexham’s excellent bid to become the UK City of Culture for 2025. I saw how rooted the club was in its community and the great work it was doing on behalf of the whole wider area.

I hope that those two historical examples provide instructive and relevant information on the point that I intend to make. It is foreseeable that, if the Bill is read on its simple meaning, it could apply only to English clubs. That could lead to a grave lacuna whereby the regulator is instructed to regulate English clubs only but not all football clubs in the English football pyramid. I know that that is not the intention, but with my probing amendments, I hope to seek clarification on that point.

We do not want a case where Swansea AFC, Cardiff City, Wrexham AFC, Newport County, Llansantffraid and others could be in a unique position where they play football against regulated clubs but are themselves unregulated. I have added my name to the amendment tabled by my fellow Northumbrian, the noble Lord, Lord Beith—I believe he was born in Cheshire, but his 42 years representing Berwick-upon-Tweed makes him a Northumbrian in my eyes—who is seeking reassurances for a team closer to home for us both. I hope that the Minister will be able to allay the concerns that he has raised through his amendment as well and set our minds at rest on this important matter. I beg to move.