FOOTBALL GOAL SAFETY
Over the past decade serious injuries, amputation of fingers and deaths have occurred in the assembly and usage of football goals. Thankfully as a result of direct involvement safety standards and funding to improve the safety of facilities, both of which our technical side were heavily involved in, is now available, although too many pitches and multiuse areas still have unsafe goals.
All goals must be securely anchored and none should be manufactured from wood or have any cup hooks or similar as net fixings. From the commencement of season 2007/08 match officials will be instructed not to allow games to start where net fixings are unsafe. All goals need to comply to BSEN 748 (1998) and BS 8462 (2005) and should have labels confirming this. Operators and providers with non compliant goals will be placing themselves in a most difficult legal and insurance position should an accident occur.
Detailed information and advice can be found at www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/Facilities/SafetyAndRegulations/Postings/2004/02/GoalPostSafety
Guidance on finance eligibility is available from www.footballfoundation.org.uk