Thinking about your conversation on transfers last week, is there a sense within the club that we will refresh the squad with the likes of Harbert and Agyemang following behind Katie Reid? Are we - the club & the fans - patient enough for that?

The question is: if clubs can spend billions on transfers, what does it say about the untapped potential for community investment?

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When compared with transfer spending, the picture is striking. Despite slightly lower transfer outlay this season, charitable giving rose — meaning clubs gave 3.15% of their transfer spending in 23/24, up from 2.35% the year before.

Club foundations all spend their money differently, but the top 3 biggest Premier League givers are Chelsea, Newcastle & Liverpool. Three clubs have more-than-doubled their giving over the past 5 years: Newcastle, Liverpool & Wolves.

Having looked back at the 2023-2024 accounts of the charitable foundations of clubs in The Premier League, we can see that it was a record year for their charitable work. It's the first time collective giving has broken the £70m mark, and overall spending has risen by 28% over the past 5 years.

A flag can be many things: a memory, a hope, a rallying point. Right now, it is also a test. Will we act to make this country feel welcoming for all — or will we let those who seek to exclude decide what England’s flag stands for?

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