Following today's launch at Vicarage Road by FA Chief Executive Adam Crozier and former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, 100,000 leaflets and posters, produced after consultation with the Government, the British Standards Institution and goalpost manufacturers, will be distributed to schools, colleges, leagues and clubs throughout the game. They highlight the potential dangers of using goalposts without undertaking the necessary checks and precautions and are designed to attract as much attention as possible at local levels.

The FA's campaign, which builds on guidelines circulated by the game's governing body in 1991 and 1999, identifies four easy-to-follow golden rules for the safe use of goalposts. These are:

  • Check It - equipment should be well constructed and in good condition, and home-made goalposts never used
  • Secure It - all goalposts must be securely anchored
  • Test It - adults should apply some basic tests to ensure goalposts are sound
  • Respect It - only use the goalposts for their intended purpose, don't swing on them
As well as launching an awareness campaign, The FA has been working to get a Public Advisory Standard - a form of British Standard - for mobile goalposts, which joins an existing standard for fixed posts.

"This campaign is a vital part of our commitment to make safety a top priority in football at all levels," explained Adam Crozier. "Everyone involved with playing and organising football must play their part to ensure that the tragic accidents that have so disfigured the game in the past never happen again."