Events

Stockport County FC

18 September 2007

Stockport County FC agreed to host their first event with Show Racism the Red Card at their own Manor Farm training ground. It is not often that SRtRC have the opportunity to hold events at the training grounds of teams and I am pleased to say that this event worked extremely well. The 60 Year 5 & Year 6 pupils who attended from 5 local primary schools were afforded a 'behind the scenes' experience that not many other people get to sample.

On arrival the young people were able to watch the squad train on the outdoor pitches. Shortly after this the group adjourned to the main room at the training facility where the staff provided hot lunch and refreshments for all the attendees. This room would host the main event and was also where all the players came for their lunch as well, so the young people were able to eat lunch with the players and gather some autographs ahead of the main event. This arrangement meant that when the main event began, in addition to the players who took part in the panel more of the squad, including the manager Jim Gannon, were able to watch the SRtRC film and observe the event.

The players who took part in the Q&A session were two of the club's defenders Ashley Williams and Gareth Owen, who answered the questions very well. The panel was completed by Andrew Webb, Director Of Children and Young People from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, and SRtRC's own, Gary Bennett. Andrew Webb said some words of welcome and support at the beginning of the event, the young people then saw the SRtRC film before the Q&A session.

SRtRC provided three of our T-Shirts for the Q&A session, which Ashley and Gareth kindly signed and Gary picked his three favourite questions of the session to receive the T-Shirts. In addition everyone who asked a question received a SRtRC wristband. All of the attendees received SRtRC goody bags including the new Stockport County FC/SRtRC poster. Stockport County FC had also handed out goody bags to all of the young people, which included a Stockport County scarf and match day programme amongst other goodies.

The event received some media coverage on the day, Gary and I took part in an interview with Pure 107.8 FM, who also interviewed some of the young people who attended and the players. A story concerning the event would also be given coverage on the club's website and on the coming match-day programme. We left surplus resources with the club's Community staff who will use them with their work and who had filmed the event and promised to send through a copy of the film.

Show Racism the Red Card would like to thank Stockport County FC for hosting the event and in particular Des Hinks for his help in organising it. We would also like to thank Stockport MBC for their involvement, Andrew Webb for taking part on the day and Michelle Booth and Andrea Valentine for their help in inviting the schools. Big thanks also to Ashley and Gareth for taking part so readily on the day and to all of the schools for attending.