Clubline Football Join the Football Association and Football Foundation's Campaign to Improve Goal Post Safety

(PRWEB) June 14, 2007 -- There is now a big drive for all pitch based sports facility providers to ensure that all goal posts, football or otherwise, must now conform to the current British Standards BSEN 748:2004 & BS 8462:2005.

It follows on from the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy from Yorkshire in October 1999 which highlighted a continual problem that exists with goal post safety. He was killed when an unsecured portable goal fell over, with the crossbar fatally striking him on the head.

The issue of goal post safety goes as far back as 1991 when on a BBC "That's Life" programme, hosted by Esther Rantzen, specifically highlighted this significant problem. Investigations into the case concluded that the goals used were of a home made construction and were not anchored properly, if at all.

Leading Goal Post Manufacturer Harrod UK Limited, who's Chairman Ron Harrod was involved on the making of that BBC programme, has spent over 25 years campaigning and representing the UK on the European Standards Committee. Ron is widely regarded as the UK expert in goal post safety. Ron commented, "I am aware of nine youngsters having been killed throughout the UK in the last 13 years by portable goal posts falling on them. The tragedy is that all of these accidents were preventable."

ClublineFootball.com General Sales Manager Nick Palmer said, "Pitch builders, consultants, design teams and facility providers should make sure that they are aware of the latest developments in goalpost safety and should, at all times, refer to the relevant codes of practice and standards." Nick went on to say, "The key message here is that all goal posts should be supplied through a reputable distributor, such as ourselves, who can provide certificate evidence that the goals supplied comply with these standards."

Vanessa Bayley, Sales Office Supervisor at www.ClublineFootball.com said, "Some key operational procedures to consider when using goal posts, are regular maintenance (along with a risk assessment of their usage); purchasing goals through a reputable supplier that conform to a British Standard (if applicable); good signage in and around the facility indicating that goals must be carefully secured; inclusion on booking forms, league rules and confirmation of a requirement for users to check that game goals are secured before play; staff training on the correct method of erection, dismantling and storage of these items; training users to secure goals and the correct methods of storage once games have been completed; and staff remaining alert when goals are moved to different areas of usage."

For further information on Goal Posts and the safety issues that surround them please visit the Clubline website at www.clublinefootball.com. Or, if you have any general questions or would like a free Clubline Football catalogue, please contact Vanessa and her sales team on FREEPHONE 0800 975 6776.

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