A GRIMSBY Town supporter is leading the protests against the Football Association's controversial 'League 3' concept.
The FA's chairman Greg Dyke this week unveiled a raft of England Commission proposals at Wembley, aimed at boosting the number of English players at the top of club football.
The most controversial of these would see the introduction of Premier League B teams in a new 'League 3' from 2016/17.
Fans across the country have hit out at the proposal, claiming it will damage lower league football.
And Cleethorpes' Lewis Horwell has captured the mood, helping to create the 'Against League 3' website and start a petition.
More than 20,000 people logged on to the petition site in less than 24 hours to register their displeasure.
And after encouraging a raft of national journalists and football pundits to support the campaign with re-tweets, Horwell, has appeared on BBC Radio Five Live and Sky Sports News to further publicise the group's views.
"Greg Dyke's proposal for 'B' teams in the English Football Pyramid will ruin years of tradition and ruin English football for the real fans," said Horwell.
"Let's be the voice for the real every day football fan."
A statement on the 'Against League 3' website adds: "AL3 is a collective effort to offer fans a chance to air their views, primarily against League 3.
"AL3 was started by two football fans, from opposite sides of the country, supporting different teams, who had never met before.
"We feel these plans are damaging to lower league football, whose teams are seemingly expected to pay the price for the poor record of the national side, and indeed the FA's failings.
"We've created this movement as a way for fans to communicate together, so that we can decide how best to respond."
Dyke, meanwhile, claims he has had backing from the top clubs for his plan to introduce B teams – even if the leagues do not like it.
He insisted teams including Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City were enthusiastic about the proposal and believes club power can win the day even though the Premier League refused to be part of his England Commission.
Dyke has set a target of increasing the number of English players in the Premier League from 32 per cent to 45 per cent by 2022 in his Commission report.
Asked if he feared the leagues would block his proposals, he said: "I don't think that will happen. Do I think every bit of this will happen no, do I think a lot of it will – yes."
More information can be found at: www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the- football-association-say-no-to-b-teams
