Politicians' support crucial in securing Elite Series approval

Photo: Scott Wiggins

Sheffield Steelers owner, and Elite League Chairman, Tony Smith has thanked local politicians for being key figures behind getting the 2021 Elite Series up and running.

Behind-the-scenes lobbying from Richard Caborn and Sheffield MP Clive Beets played a pivotal role in securing government funding for the event, after the initial application was turned down.

Smith explained: “It’s important that ice hockey fans – and especially those in Sheffield – know that we had people at the top pulling for us.

"Clive Betts certainly pushed all the right buttons on our behalf and I think it is fair to say that without his support and determination, we wouldn’t be watching the Elite Series right now.

"He got (Secretary of State) Oliver Dowden to pick up speed and got them to have a look at a second proposal. He put in a number of pressing letters to Government ministers and Sport England’s CEO Tim Hollingsworth. We wouldn’t have got a look-in, to be honest, without his clout as an MP.

“It is important that we reinforce the point that Clive did a lot of that work for us. He did something that we couldn’t do."