Football is for everyone.

Chatham Town Football Club is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who attends The Bauvill Stadium or supports the club away from home.

We want supporters of all ages and backgrounds to feel comfortable watching Chatham Town.

There is no place in our club or in football for discrimination, abuse, harassment, threatening behaviour or violence.

We ask every supporter to play their part in creating a positive matchday environment and to report behaviour that falls below the standards we expect.

Our Supporter Standards

When attending Chatham Town fixtures, travelling to or from matches, or representing the club online, supporters are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully.

Unacceptable behaviour includes, but is not limited to:

Racist language, chanting, gestures or behaviour
Sexism or misogyny
Homophobic, biphobic or transphobic abuse
Discrimination relating to disability
Discrimination relating to religion, faith or belief
Discrimination relating to nationality or ethnic origin
Sexual harassment or unwanted sexual behaviour
Threatening, intimidating or violent behaviour
Abusive behaviour towards players, match officials, staff, stewards, volunteers or other supporters
Throwing objects or missiles
Entering the field of play without permission
The misuse of pyrotechnics or other prohibited items
Bullying, harassment or targeted abuse online

Passion and emotion are part of football. Discrimination and abuse are not.

Supporters are also required to comply with Chatham Town Football Club’s Ground Regulations when attending The Bauvill Stadium.

How To Report An Incident

If an incident is happening during a match

Please report it as soon as possible.

Speak to the nearest:

Steward
Club official
Member of matchday staff
Police officer, where present

Giving us the opportunity to deal with an incident while it is happening can make it easier to identify those involved and take appropriate action.

Please do not put yourself at risk or confront another supporter.

If you are attending an away fixture, report the incident to a steward or official representing the home club. You can also make Chatham Town FC aware of the incident by filling in this form. Please click here.

Report Directly To Chatham Town FC

If you experience or witness unacceptable supporter behaviour, you can report it to the club after the event.

Email: garyhake@chathamtownfc.com

Or fill in this form: Click here

When making a report, please provide as much information as you can, including:

The fixture or event
Date and approximate time
Where in the stadium the incident happened
A description of what you witnessed or experienced
A description of the person or people involved
Seat, standing area or location where known
Names of any witnesses
Photographs, video or screenshots where safely available

For online incidents, please include the relevant account name, platform, link and screenshots where possible.

You do not need to confront the person involved or put yourself at risk to gather evidence.

If you would like your report to be treated confidentially, please make this clear when contacting us. Information may still need to be shared with organisations such as The FA, league authorities or the police where appropriate.

Reporting Discrimination

You can report discrimination directly to Chatham Town FC, but there are also a number of independent organisations that provide specialist reporting and support.

Kick It Out

Kick It Out works across English football to tackle discrimination and provides a dedicated reporting service covering professional football, non-league and grassroots football, as well as incidents that take place online.

You can report racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, faith-based discrimination and other forms of discriminatory behaviour through Kick It Out.

REPORT TO KICK IT OUT

Her Game Too

Chatham Town FC believes that women and girls should be able to attend, participate in and enjoy football without sexism, misogyny or harassment.

Her Game Too works to tackle sexism in football and provides a route for people who have experienced or witnessed sexist or misogynistic behaviour to report it.

Football-related reports submitted through Her Game Too are supported through its reporting relationship with Kick It Out.

REPORT THROUGH HER GAME TOO

Football v Homophobia

Football v Homophobia works to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and to make football a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people.

If you experience or witness homophobic, biphobic or transphobic behaviour in football, you can report it through Football v Homophobia. Reports are supported through its reporting relationship with Kick It Out.

REPORT THROUGH FOOTBALL v HOMOPHOBIA

Level Playing Field

Level Playing Field campaigns for an inclusive matchday experience for disabled sports supporters.

If you experience disability-related abuse or discrimination, or have concerns about accessibility and inclusion at a football ground, Level Playing Field can provide advice and support.

VISIT LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

Report To The FA

Discriminatory behaviour can also be reported through The Football Association’s official reporting channels.

The FA encourages anybody who has experienced or witnessed discrimination in football to report it so that the incident can be considered and investigated.

REPORT DISCRIMINATION TO THE FA

Online Abuse

Our standards of behaviour do not stop when the final whistle blows.

Discrimination, threats, harassment or targeted abuse towards our players, staff, volunteers, match officials or fellow supporters through social media is unacceptable.

If you experience or witness online abuse:

Do not engage with or escalate the situation
Take screenshots where appropriate
Save the username/account name
Save a link to the post, comment or message
Report the content through the relevant social media platform
Report discriminatory football-related abuse to Kick It Out
Contact Chatham Town FC where the incident relates to the club, our players, staff or supporters

Where behaviour may constitute a criminal offence, it should also be reported to the police.