Port Vale FC and their pioneering Valiants Against Racism campaign have worked closely with Staffordshire Police, PARINS and the national Kick It Out campaign to launch a new initiative designed to eradicate racism from ValePark. The initiative encourages fans to report incidents of racism to stewards on match-days and also offers fans the opportunity to call a new anti-racist hotline at any time after match-days. The new anti-racist hot-line number is 07845 301882. Fans using the hotline will be able to speak to a designated member of staff at the club who will record details of racist incidents. This information will then be used to identify racist offenders and potential trouble-spots and will help improve the more general policing of racism and anti-social behaviour at the club. Complainants will also be offered information regarding victim support by PARINS.

Port Vale FC has taken strong action against racism amongst fans in the past and this new initiative provides further evidence of the clubs stance against racism. The initiative is well timed. Recently, FIFA, football's governing body, announced strict sanctions against clubs whose fans engage in racism, including suspensions, points deductions and disqualification from competitions. Whilst FIFA's dictate was largely a response to recent high profile incidents of racism in Spain and Italy, the FA will seek to implement this course of action in England but will look favourably on clubs which have implemented proper procedures to combat the problem.

In order to help publicise Vale's stance against racism the club has produced new pitch-side hoardings, posters and 5,000 key fobs which feature anti-racist messages and the new hotline number. Members of the VAR campaign will distribute key fobs to fans at the turnstiles before Saturday's match against Swansea. These resources have been funded by Partners Assuring a Safer Staffordshire (PASS), the North Staffs Racial Equality Council and the national Kick It Out campaign following a successful funding application by the VAR campaign for around £1,250.

This new initiative is part of a wider programme of work presently being undertaken by the Valiants Against racism campaign. VAR has recently been successful in a funding bid to the Football Foundation for £4,500 to set up a VAR website, a VAR membership scheme and to deliver anti-racist and diversity training to all staff at the club. The campaign also expects to help Port Vale FC to become one of only a handful of clubs nationally (and the first in the West Midlands) to have achieved the national 'Kick It Out Racial Equality Standard for Professional Clubs' in recognition of the clubs ground-breaking anti-racist work.

Quotes:

Dr Steven Bradbury: Chair of Valiants Against Racism

'The VAR campaign and Port Vale FC have worked hard over recent years to combat racism at the club with some success, and this new initiative is an extension of our intentions in this respect. We must all take responsibility for keeping ValePark a racism free zone and reporting the actions of a minority of racist offenders is part of that process. Racism can only be dealt with properly if it is reported directly to the clubs stewards or through the new anti-racist hotline. This new initiative provides the framework in which the club and its supporters can better deal with racism to the benefit of every-one connected with the club and to the benefit of those people from all communities who are keen to be become supporters of the club in the future'

Bill Bratt, Chairman of Port Vale FC.

The work of the VAR Group at ValePark has progressed steadily over recent years and we as a Club are proud to be close to gaining the national " Kick It Out Racial Equality Standard for Professional Clubs"

Jonathon Pace: Community Development Officer, ValePark Community Initiative

As the community development officer for the Vale Park Community Initiative, I fully promote the encouraging work being achieved by VAR and all work towards embedding Port Vale FC as an integral part of its neighbourhood, open and
accesible to all members of the community.