The Play Safe campaign is also endorsed by the NSPCC and will be supported this weekend 28-29 September across every level of English football, including the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship, National League and across the grassroots game.

Manchester FA, will be supporting the weekend with our team at fixtures across our leagues, backing Play Safe. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts, showing your support for Play Safe.

This year’s Play Safe campaign focuses on the safeguarding role that everyone can play – coaches, players, parents/carers, spectators or volunteers – to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting.

To support the campaign, a series of Know Your Role videos have been launched across England Football channels, highlighting the different roles around football and everyone’s responsibility in safeguarding.

England Football has also produced a special video with three survivors of non-recent childhood sexual abuse in football, who share their experiences and discuss how safeguarding requires adults, including parents/carers to spot the signs, ask the right questions and speak up to prevent abuse from happening.

On the pitch, grassroots youth team captains will be wearing Play Safe armbands and youth team coaches wearing Play Safe pin badges, up and down the country in support, including in Manchester.

As part of this year’s Play Safe campaign, we are once again promoting the free England Football Learning online Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers to raise awareness around safeguarding and how to report any concerns. The free course provides important information that guides parents and carers through questions they should ask to ensure the club or venue where children play football has the correct safeguarding policies, people and practices in place.

Manchester FA Chief Executive and Senior Safeguarding Lead Colin Bridgford commented: "It’s vital that we all play our part in whatever role we play in ensuring that football is a safe place to play.  Safeguarding is at the heart of what we do at Manchester FA and must be across the game in Greater Manchester.  We are fully supportive of the Play Safe campaign and we are committed to supporting our Clubs, League, Volunteers, Match Officials, Players and Parents"

Manchester FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, Scott Dean said: "I would like to place on record my thanks for the incredible work and commitment shown by Club and League Welfare Officers across Greater Manchester, supporting in providing children and young people are given the best opportunity to play in positive environments. We are asking all clubs that are playing this weekend to capture footage and imagery of what you are doing to ensure that participants 'play safe' - and don't forget to tag us in on socials so we can share your great messaging"

The FA’s Head of Safeguarding, Sue Ravenlaw, said: “The central push behind this year’s Play Safe weekend is to create awareness for the vital safeguarding role they can play in football. It really is about Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time.

“The Play Safe weekend is a fantastic way of highlighting the importance of safeguarding and putting this at the forefront of people’s minds, not just for this weekend, but throughout the season. This year, our campaign is for everyone to know their role in safeguarding, and we look forward to seeing clubs at every level of the game showing their support across the weekend, to make sure football is safe, fun, and enjoyable for all.”

Read more about Play Safe 2024

The FA’s Safeguarding Awareness course for Parents and Carers