The event security and stewarding contractors Showsec have extended a partnership with the FSOA – the Football Safety Officers’ Association.
At the Bi-Annual Conference of the FSOA, in Stratford upon Avon, Showsec reported an agreement to continue as the industry body’s main sponsor for the next five years. Showec says that their partnership with the FSOA has already made a significant contribution to the enhancement of public safety at UK sports stadiums; and thus helped to improve the match day experience for football supporters. Showsec point to varying degrees of involvement with a number of Premier League clubs including the reigning champions Leicester City (for whom they stewarded the victory parade in the city, Showsec’s base, in May), this season’s early pacesetters Manchester City (and Showsec have also stewarded City’s victory parades), Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Sunderland. Showsec also operate at other clubs at different levels throughout the Football League and have also worked with some non-league clubs.
John Newsham, the FSOA’s Business Development and Membership Manager, said: “This new agreement with Showsec means we can look at helping the lower league clubs to benefit from being a member of this association. It is not just the safety and security advice which they can offer to our members, they can also provide operational support on occasions when these clubs may be faced with a big match that presents challenges in terms of crowd control.
“The excellence Showsec deliver in safety and security to many stadiums and the excellence they can still bring to other stadiums is of great benefit to us. It’s one reason why we are delighted to have them on board for another five years. Long may the partnership continue to grow and prosper for both parties, so that together we can put more back into the game. It will help to ensure that, wherever possible, people who go to football stadiums are as safe as they can be in the current climate.”
Alan Wallace, Showsec’s Regional Manager for the North, is pictured centre. He confirmed the new agreement in an address to the FSOA conference, after which he also joined a panel to take questions from club safety and security managers. He described the extended opportunity to work closely with the FSOA as “absolutely priceless” in terms of involvement in the game.
Wallace said: “While the FSOA may appear to be few in numbers, their influence stretches far and wide. It’s not just the 20 Premier League clubs at the top, but also the 92 Football League clubs and beyond that as well. Football is weaved into the fabric of every corner of daily life, so we are delighted that we have the chance to build on this partnership. The benefit for us that we are brought into the inner circle where we can engage with very influential people in our industry. This is much more than just a sponsorship though, it is a partnership in which we are very committed to making a big contribution in terms further advances in crowd safety so supporters get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of the game.”
Pictured left is Sharon Cicco, FSOA chair and Arsenal Football Club Event Safety and Security Manager.
