Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch & Upminster, has written to the English Football League on behalf of Hornchurch FC and Dagenham & Redbridge FC about fairness in football. The letter highlights the National League's 3UP campaign, which is pushing for an additional promotion place from the National League into EFL League Two.

Hornchurch FC, which plays from their stadium on Bridge Avenue, was recently promoted back to the National League South. Both Hornchurch and Dagenham & Redbridge FC have many fans living in Mrs Lopez’s constituency and the clubs have had a huge impact on grassroots football across Havering.

The 3UP campaign has garnered widespread support from all 72 National League clubs, advocating for fairness and sporting meritocracy in the English football pyramid.

In her letter, Mrs Lopez highlighted the case for 3UP including the benefits to clubs and communities, the support from football fans, and the alignment with the Football Governance Bill and Independent Football Regulator’s objectives. She emphasised the Clubs’ requests for the EFL Board to schedule a vote on the matter at its next AGM in June.

Mrs Lopez said: 

"Hornchurch FC and Dagenham & Redbridge FC are fantastic community clubs and I wanted to highlight their strong backing of 3UP. It’s a plan to create fairness in the football pyramid and in turn strengthen grassroots football so that there is a pipeline for British footballing talent and thriving community clubs”

The letter also posed several questions to the EFL executive, seeking clarity on their support for the campaign, the timeframe for scheduling a vote, and the acknowledgment of the National League’s new cost control rules.