Posted on 20th October 2011
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Register today: register@fsf.org.uk
Free event open to fans of ALL clubs
Register and receive a FREE DRINK on arrival
*The Rifle Club, Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth, PO4 0AW. Thursday 20th October 2011. Doors 7pm (7.30pm kick-off).
Watching Football Is Not A Crime! is a free Football Supporters’ Federation event, hosted by former Pompey, Saints, and Republic of Ireland star Alan McLoughlin. The event gives fans the chance to question a panel of experts including Supt Rick Burrows, in charge of policing at Fratton Park and St Mary’s, and barrister Stephen Field. We are also pleased to welcome Alex Gask from the prestigious Doughty Street Chambers and a rep from the Football Safety Officers’ Association.
The FSF has previously held Watching Football Is Not A Crime! in London and Sheffield with the discussion entirely in the hands of those attending. Questions which have been raised in the past include:
Further timing and venue information:
Fans should arrive for 7pm and the event will kick-off at around 7.30pm, this gives plenty of time for everyone to grab a drink and get settled. We’ll then have two Q&A sessions lasting around one hour each, with a 15 minute refreshment break in the middle. We’re sure it’s a format football fans are vaguely familiar with.
If everything’s as interesting as expected, there might even be extra time…everything should be wrapped up for 10.30pm when there’ll be time for a few pints and some chit-chat with fellow fans.
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Six years ago, black clouds loomed over Fratton Park as Portsmouth had been plunged into their second administration in three seasons, suffered their third relegation in four seasons and had started their stint in League Two with minus 10 points. The once high-flying Premier League club faced its toughest test yet…survival.
The story of how Pompey fans saved their club is the subject of a brand new documentary feature film set to be released on streaming services this Easter weekend.
Racism has been a huge talking point in recent months and, while football has thankfully moved on from the 1970s and 80s when groups like the National Front tried to use the terraces as a place to recruit members, that doesn’t mean supporters can rest on our laurels.
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