From next season all those working with children in affiliated football will have to complete a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check through The FA CRB Unit and be in possession of a West Riding County FA identity card.

 

This week, on Tuesday 6th July and Wednesday 7th July, organisers from over 200 local junior leagues in the West Riding County FA area will be sending a representative to special CRB checking sessions.

 

These representatives will then take The FA’s message of child protection and best practice back to their clubs, ahead of the new season in two months’ time.

 

Tony Pickerin, The FA’s Head of Child Protection said, “I think the initiative in West Riding is superb. The support from local clubs has been tremendous and the work put in by the County FA has been excellent.  We will be watching the results of this project with great interest. 

 

"But it is important to remember that CRB checks are not a solution in themselves.  Safeguarding children is about best practice and making sure everyone has an awareness of what that means. 

 

"The FA’s Child protection and best practice training programmes have now reached nearly 75,000 people.  That’s 75,000 more pairs of eyes aware of how children should be treated and watching out for abuse.”

 

John Riordan from West Riding County FA added, “We are pleased to take this significant step in making it much more difficult for the wrong type of person to be involved with children in football. 

 

"We will be the only organisation if football to link a CRB certificate to a photographic identity card.  The response from clubs here has been fully supportive and this step builds on the County FA’s foresight in 1999 in making it a rule that all adults involved in junior football were registered with the County FA.”

 

The first CRB sessions are Tuesday and Wednesday at West Riding County HQ at Woodlesford in Leeds.