FOCUS ON RESPECT

Ten years after launching, the Respect campaign continues to be one of The FA’s most popular of all.

FA RESPECT CHAMPIONING POSITIVE COMMUNITY FOOTBALL ENVIRONMENT

Solely funded by The FA and delivered by the Foundation, the campaign seeks to promote a more respectful, inclusive environment for community footballers to enjoy the beautiful game.

Throughout the years, clubs have been awarded Respect packs, containing strong pitch-side barriers, attention boards, wall banners and captain’s armbands to help encourage good behaviour.

This year, this was also supported by the launch of a new Respect Journey pilot across 43 designated sites.

The Journey aimed to increase the number of interactions that players, coaches, officials and spectators have with The FA’s Respect messaging. Individuals are exposed to at least seven separate pieces of messaging placed strategically to reinforce good behaviour and create an inclusive environment for all on matchdays.

Nathan French, FA National Respect Campaign Manager: “We’ve seen some fantastic changes made to the attitudes and behaviour of players, coaches and spectators since the launch of the Respect campaign. Making community football a safer, more inclusive environment is at the core of everything we are trying to achieve and this scheme is helping to do exactly that.”

“WE’VE SEEN SOME FANTASTIC CHANGES MADE TO THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR OF PLAYERS.”

YOUNG REFS LAYING THE LAW AT NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN

So inspired were Newport Pagnell Town FC by the messaging deployed from The FA’s Respect scheme, the club decided to go one step further and create their very own refereeing pathway to help develop young, talented match officials.

The club initially witnessed a large change to the attitudes of spectators at home fixtures, after erecting banners and signage containing Respect messaging around their Willen Road home in Buckinghamshire. Julie added, “It’s had a fantastic uptake from within the youth ranks of our club as well as also having a really beneficial impact on the standard of refereeing. When clubs insist on allowing parents without proper qualifications to referee matches, we do often see games marred by abusive behaviour from both players and parents.

“However, when our young boys “THE FA’S RESPECT SCHEME WAS REALLY who have completed THE CATALYST TO INSPIRE THESE CHANGES their qualifications WE MADE AT THE CLUB.” are put in charge, the standard of behaviour really is of the highest standard and the level of respect shown is Julie Ford, Newport Pagnell Town’s Press Officer, said: “The Respect heart-warming. The FA’s Respect scheme was signage made an instantaneous difference to the standards of behaviour really the catalyst to inspire these changes we demonstrated by supporters and spectators. Previously we had people made at the club and I’m sure there are many venturing around the pitch almost at will and while it maybe took a other clubs who would benefit from couple of weeks for people to take proper notice of them, the standard of following suit.” behaviour has been exemplary ever since.” Following this, the club then decided to create their very own talent pathway, allowing youth team members aged 14-18 to pursue courses in refereeing, part funded by the club themselves. Upon completion of the course, the club offers a guarantee that their talents are used for all fixtures at the club’s home ground, helping to eradicate any ill feeling or bias presented by adults and parents being given refereeing responsibilities.