The FA have designated the weekend of Saturday, September 30 & Sunday, October 1 as the Play Safe Weekend for 2023, bringing a country-wide focus to the importance of safeguarding within the sport.
The campaign is being endorsed by the NSPCC and is to be supported at every level of the game, from the Premier League right down to grassroots.
With many teams across the men’s, women’s and academy section of the club, the Trust recognises the importance of safeguarding within the game and will be supporting the campaign at every Spireites game that weekend.
Spireites skipper Jamie Grimes, who will be sporting the Play Safe armband, said: “It’s important that anyone who plays this game feels safe in their environment. Everyone has a right to feel safe and enjoy the game that we all love.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be in a lot of very good dressing rooms and haven’t had bad experiences but I’ve heard those things go on.
“These safeguarding measures are here to ensure people are feeling safe in a sporting environment.”
The Trust also urges any parents/volunteers at Spireites’ fixtures that weekend to recognise their role in the safety of children/young people, following the FA’s message to ‘Watch. Talk. Listen. Act.’, which, if followed, will aid in ensuring the safety and support of children in difficult circumstances.
The FA have made a new Player Welfare Course available, which is aimed at those involved with open-age football, as well as a free safeguarding course specifically for parents/carers which can be found here.
Alyss Jackson, the Trust’s women and girls inclusion officer, said: “It’s about reiterating the fact that safeguarding is everybody’s business when working with children and young people, whatever environment that is.
“The fact the FA are designating a weekend to the matter brings it back to the forefront to ensure that it remains on everybody’s radar, using the power of sport to convey the message.”
You can show your support for the Spireites on this play safe weekend, backing the first team for their fixture away against Maidenhead United.
If you’re not travelling down to Berkshire, there are opportunities closer to home to support Chesterfield with the youth side making the short journey to take on Staveley Miners Welfare in the Central Youth Alliance League on Friday, September 29 at 7.45pm.
The women are also playing locally, taking on Handsworth Ladies on Sunday, October 1 at 2pm.
