supporter safety and behaviour

Halesowen Town Football Club is aware of concerns raised by a number of supporters regarding behaviour at recent fixtures, and we would like to thank those who have taken the time to contact the Club.

Ahead of Monday’s fixture at Redditch, the Club worked with the police and Redditch United and put forward a plan based on measures we have used successfully at previous fixtures to help manage our travelling support. Unfortunately, not all of the measures we proposed were put in place. Ultimately, at away fixtures, the matchday and admission arrangements are the responsibility of the host club.

We are proud of the backing the team receives wherever we play and particularly pleased to see a growing number of younger supporters following the Yeltz. We want that to continue.

However, we also recognise the concerns raised by supporters about unacceptable behaviour at recent fixtures. We take those concerns seriously, particularly where behaviour leaves other supporters feeling uncomfortable or less inclined to attend matches.

At The Grove, we already have measures in place to help manage supporter behaviour, including our Youth Card scheme and stewards monitoring areas where issues are more likely to occur. We will continue to consider additional measures where appropriate, including how incidents are reported and dealt with, the identification of individuals involved in unacceptable behaviour, and how we can support a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone attending.

We would encourage supporters to speak to a steward at the time if they witness anti-social or unacceptable behaviour at a fixture. This gives the matchday team the best opportunity to respond. If you would like to raise a concern about a previous incident or experience, you can also contact the Club at support@ht-fc.co.uk.

We are proud of the atmosphere our supporters generate at The Grove and on the road. We also want to welcome young supporters and provide them with the opportunity to experience authentic, affordable and accessible football rooted in their local community. We hope many of them will be following Halesowen Town for decades to come.

But supporting the Yeltz should never come at the expense of somebody else’s enjoyment or safety.

We will listen to the feedback we receive from supporters and use it to inform any further measures the Club considers appropriate.

Up The Yeltz.