A staggering four million children play organised football in England. For most of this population of budding Beckhams, football is good, clean, healthy fun. But what about the children who get sworn at by their coach or bullied by other players? What about the clubs where the physio has never had any medical training? What about the kids who get screamed at by overbearing parents on the touch-line? And worst of all, what about the mercifully rare cases where children have been sexually abused?

Making football safe and enjoyable for children is the highest priority. The Football Association is leading the way in developing policies in this vital area, under the banner of GOAL.

The F.A. has been in regular dialogue with Government, Police, Social Services, NSPCC, and other bodies in an effort to place at the forefront the interests of the child and to serve his/her best interests and has now approved an F.A. Child Protection Policy.

Goal is about doing things the right way, doing things properly. It’s about allowing children to enjoy the game without abuse of any kind. That means bullying, physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect.

We believe football can have a powerful positive influence on children. That means everyone involved in our club and fixtures must act responsibly.

As a Club we have developed a Child Protection Policy to include the following Key Principles:

• The child’s welfare is paramount
• All children have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious belief of sexual identity
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

As a Club we have members of the management team and club who are fully checked for CRB records (Criminal Records Bureau) and also members who have attended and completed child protection workshops run by the FA.

The Club also has a dedicated Child Welfare Office, trained by the FA under their Safe Guarding Children and Young People in Football programme.

Popularity: 21% [?]