Behaviour Policy

Introduction
As a family and Community Club, Stafford Rangers Football Club will not tolerate unacceptable conduct from the club’s employees, directors, players or supporters or any other person exercising a function for or connected with the club, whether at Marston Road, including the social club, or at away grounds or in public places where they can be obviously identified as being associated with the club. The club aims to create and maintain an environment where spectators can enjoy the game of football, and they and visiting players and officials and match day officials are safe in the knowledge that they are free from all forms of unacceptable conduct.
Everyone associated with the club has a responsibility to prevent and discourage any form of unacceptable behaviour and as such is responsible not only for their own actions but also those of others. We would therefore encourage everyone to bring to the club’s attention, any incident or behaviour of individuals or groups of individuals, which breaches this policy.

Whilst it is appreciated that unacceptable behaviour involves only a very small minority of individuals in our society, the club wishes to ensure that we continue to maintain the highest standards both on and off the field of play and that the name of Stafford Rangers Football Club is never brought into disrepute.

Unacceptable conduct

The issue of equality is one that we take extremely seriously at Stafford Rangers Football Club and we abhor discrimination in all its forms, including sexism. We find such behaviour unacceptable and we want it eradicated from the game.

Any conduct which can reasonably be regarded as violent or disorderly including any kind of discriminatory behaviour.

Violent conduct
Violent conduct includes but is not limited to:
1. Actual, attempted or threatened violence against a person or persons.
2. Intentional damage to property.
3. The throwing of any kind of missile or the lighting of flares, fireworks or similar devices
4. Attempting to bring into the ground anything which appears to be designed to be used as a missile
5. Spitting at any person

Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct includes but is not limited to:
1. Conduct which is intended to create or sustain or has the effect of creating or sustaining hatred or ill will against anyone based on the following grounds:
a) gender, including transgender
b) colour, race, ethnicity or national origin,
c) religion.
d) sexual orientation
e) disability
2. The use of threatening, abusive or insulting language or gestures towards any person including match officials and visiting players and officials.
3. The display of written words, or any other visual display, which is threatening, abusive or insulting.

Racism
Stafford Rangers Football Club condemns racism in any form, either on or off the pitch. Stafford Rangers Football Club aims to create and maintain a working and spectating environment free from racial harassment and abuse. Everyone connected with the club has a responsibility to prevent racial harassment or abuse.

A racist incident is defined by the club as one that is reasonably perceived to be racist by the victim. Racial harassment is defined as any verbal, physical, written or visible abuse that is based on a person’s race, ethnic background, colour, nationality, language or cultural background – and is considered to be unwanted, unacceptable and offensive to the person.

Racist taunts and abusive or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated by Stafford Rangers Football Club and all staff and supporters are encouraged to condemn and report such behaviour. Proven racial harassment or abuse will lead to eviction from the stadium and will be reported to the Police and is likely to result in a life ban from Stafford Rangers Football Club. The club will give its full support to the Police in any criminal actions.

Stafford Rangers fully supports and will promote the Show Racism the Red Card Campaign, details of which can be found at www.srtrc.org.

Sanctions
1. Any Stafford Rangers official, employee or volunteer who engages in unacceptable conduct will be dealt with under the Clubs internal disciplinary procedures.
2. Any supporter who engages in unacceptable conduct will be liable for sanctions imposed at the absolute discretion of the Club including withdrawal of season ticket without compensation and exclusion from the ground for any period of time including life. In the case of serious and/or persistent offending the club will support any application for football banning order under the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999.

By Order of the Board
September 2018
Stafford Rangers Football Club Ltd