Ground Rules and Safety Policy

Supporters are assured that Mansfield Town Football Club is in communication with the police and local authority to ensure that crowd safety in the stadium and its surrounds on match days is not compromised so far as matters are within the Club's control.

Mansfield Town Football Club and in particular those employed by the Club with specific responsibilities for safety, undertake to ensure, as far as is practicable, that all activities taking place within the stadium are conducted in a manner that places spectator safety above all other considerations.

The Club's primary responsibility, through its safety policies, will be to ensure the reasonable safety of all persons attending the stadium. The Club has appointed a Stadium Safety Officer who will be responsible for ensuring the implementation and maintenance of the stadium regulations.

Stadium Regulations

The right of admission is reserved to Mansfield Town Football Club.

The following are offences under the Football (Offences) Act 1991 and are strictly forbidden:

·The throwing of any object within the ground

·The use of foul or abusive language, obscene chanting or racial abuse towards any person

·Unauthorised entry onto the field of play except in an emergency

With the exception of authorized persons holding official passes, the taking of photographs, video photography, or other recordings inside the buildings or the ground is prohibited. In addition, no recording whether for radio or television, by audio or visual means, or for private purposes and whether for transmission or otherwise, is permitted, save with special authorization in writing from Mansfield Town FC.

Only persons specifically authorized in writing by Mansfield Town FC are permitted in the ground without charge to offer for sale, Newspapers, Periodicals or any other articles, including food and beverages, or to carry out Charity collections.

Unnecessary noise such as that from the use of radio sets and behaviour likely to cause confusion or nuisance of any kind, including foul or abusive language, is not permitted in any part of the ground.

The climbing onto or into, stands or other buildings and facilities in the ground are forbidden. The consumption of intoxicating liquors is permitted within the Stadium only in areas permitted by license held under the Licensing Act 2003 issued by Mansfield District Council. Fireworks, flares, air horns, smoke canisters, bottles, glasses, cans, flagsticks, poles and other similar articles or containers, including any of which could or might be used as a weapon, are not permitted within the ground or buildings. Any person in possession of such an article or container may be refused entry or be ejected.

Smoking is not permitted in any covered area of the ground. (See separate Smoke Free Policy for details)

Any person who fails to comply with instructions from a Steward or other person acting for Mansfield Town FC may be ejected from the ground.

Any person standing in gangways or on steps in contravention of signs and markings will be asked to move. Failure to comply may result in ejection from the ground. Any person found damaging or defacing any property of Mansfield Town FC will be prosecuted.

Mansfield Town FC reserves the right to refuse admission to, or eject from, the ground, any person who refuses to be searched by a Police Officer, Security Officer or a representative of Mansfield Town FC.

All persons entering the ground are admitted only subject to the above rules and regulations. Entry to the ground shall be deemed to constitute unqualified acceptance of all the above rules and regulations. Mansfield Town FC reserves the right for its servants and agents to remove from the ground any person who does not comply with the above rules and regulations, or whose presence in such ground is, or could reasonably be construed as, constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to other spectators.

All persons entering the ground do so at their own risk.

Smoke-free Policy

Purpose

This policy has been developed to protect all employees, members, visitors, customers and supporters from exposure to second-hand smoke and to assist compliance with the Health Act 2006.

Exposure to second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses. Ventilation or separating smokers and non-smokers within the same airspace does not completely stop potentially dangerous exposure.

Policy

It is the policy of Mansfield Town Football Club and the Field Mill Stadium and conference facilities that all our covered areas are smoke free, and all employees, members, visitors, customers and supporters have a right to enjoy the benefits of a smoke free environment. This policy came into effect on 1 July 2007. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed and substantially enclosed premises, this includes company vehicles. This policy applies to all employees, members, visitors, customers and supporters.

Implementation

Overall responsibility for policy implementation and review rests with the Chairman and Board of Directors. However, all staff are obliged to adhere to and support the implementation of the policy. The person(s) named above shall inform all existing employees, servants and agents of the policy and their role in the implementation and monitoring of the policy. They will also give all new personnel a copy of the policy upon recruitment/induction.

Appropriate 'no-smoking' signs will be clearly displayed at the entrances to and within the premises, and in all smoke free company vehicles.

Non-Compliance

Staff members will be subject to disciplinary procedures for non compliance with this policy. Non-staff members will be evicted from the building or stadium, as appropriate. Those who do not comply with the smoke free law may also be liable to a fixed penalty fine and possible criminal prosecution.

Unacceptable Conduct Policy

Mansfield Town Football Club (The Club) aims to create and maintain a suitable working environment and specifically, a place where spectators can enjoy the game of football, safe in the knowledge that they are free from all forms of harassment and abuse. The Club will not tolerate any unacceptable conduct, at home or at other club stadia.

Definition

Unacceptable conduct is conduct which is violent or disorderly.

Violent conduct includes any actual, attempted or threatened physical violence against any person, or intentional damage to property.

Disorderly conduct includes any conduct which effects or sustains hatred or ill will against or towards individuals or groups by reason of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability. It also includes the use of threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct, both verbal and non verbal.

Responsibility

Everyone associated with the Club has a responsibility to prevent and discourage any form of abuse and as such are 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, deemed to be in breach of this policy.

Consequences

Any person deemed to be engaging in any unacceptable behaviour may be subject to any, or a combination of, the following:

·Removal from the Stadium

·Suspension from attending any Mansfield Town matches

·An indefinite ban from all future Mansfield Town matches

·Report to the Police and the possibility of criminal proceedings