Sue Watson at Watson Associates

Sue Watson Associates was originally founded in 1992, as a training company to provide Business start up training and advice for people looking at self employment. We also delivered training to growing small business and a mentoring service for the owner/managers.

These programmes were Government funded and provided over the first four years a turnover of £500,000, with a conference centre in Leeds and Halifax. In 1997 The Government abolished the Enterprise Allowance Scheme and all the programmes that supported the owner managers. During this period, having already identified that this may happen, we had diversified into the Sports Industry, a planned process through an accidental opportunity.

Watson Associates was renamed in 1997 and we formed a Limited Company. Our work moved forward to cover many areas. Some of the work we carried out from 1992 onwards is detailed below:

1992

Worked with Leeds United FC to look at the training needs for the Administration department, team building and management training issues.

1993

Wrote a training programme for stewards working at Leeds linked to the new National Vocational Qualification in Spectator Control at Level 2. Also started to work with Safety Officers to put together an assessment process for the level 4 in Spectator Safety Management.

1994

Pilot of the new qualification for stewards, run at Leeds, Bradford, Cambridge and Scunthorpe, 120 stewards from the clubs trained and assessed to the NVQ in Spectator Control.

1995

Approached by Wembley to write and deliver a stewards training package for the Euro ’96 competition. Over the next eight months trained 967 stewards at Wembley and then spent the next two years assessing the stewards against the training they had received. During this time worked with Leeds as one of the Venues for the Umbro Cup, a ‘warm up’ event for the following year.

1996

Still at Leeds, and Wembley, now assessing Safety Officers all over the country for NVQ Level 4 in Spectator Safety Management. Trained the merchandisers for the Euro 96 Competition and was invited to look at their operation in Holland, for the Tina Turner Concert at Ajax Stadium.

1997

Approached by the Chairman of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland to look at the Marshals who controlled the Parades and to see if the training we did would transfer to their needs. We ran a pilot with The Apprentice Boys of Derry and then worked with the Orange Order to deliver training, and assessment, train the trainer and developed a package for the Parades Commission to issue to other Organisations. This programme involved a five year commitment to working in Northern Ireland, on a part time basis. Parades in Londonderry emerged from high level conflict situations costing the city upwards of Millions of pounds to last year when there was full communication and a joint planning initiative resulting in a peaceful and trouble free environment.

1998

Appointed Deputy Safety Officer at Leeds United on a part time basis, during the next four years Leeds travelled Europe in the Champions League and The UEFA Cup, and I went along to look after the Corporate Guests and to trouble shoot on the event days. I also had a brief to assist the press if necessary.
Attended and participated in UEFA briefings and prepared reports for Leeds on the issues that arose from travelling abroad.

1999 – 2002

Continued with all the existing work, delivering level 2, 3 and 4 assessments and training stewards all over the UK. Also wrote and started to deliver a three day awareness programme for Safety Officers.

2002

Approached by a Security Company in Portugal to go over and train Safety Officers and Stewards for the Euro 2004 Championships. We translated all the training notes into Portuguese and delivered to Safety Officers and Police in a pilot of the training programme. We then worked with a group of key staff, putting them through the steward training, Supervisor training, and finally taught them to deliver the training programmes themselves. This process took two years, with me going to assess the people I had trained as they started to run events. Over the period of two years we trained and assessed 200 stewards and trained their trainers to widen the participation of the clubs. Left Leeds United.

2003

Approached by The Football Safety Officers Association to write and accredit a training programme for all Safety Officers to participate in. I also wrote their business plan and funding bid for the Football Authorities to fund the pilots and part fund subsequent courses. The pilot programme ran in October with 15 Safety Officers from all over the country and from different divisions. We were then asked to run 12 more programmes over the next three years. The course was then accredited by Portsmouth University as a Certificate in Event and Matchday Safety Management. To date over 400 Safety Officers have attended the programme.

2004

Nominated Vice Chair of the Football Safety Officers Association. Appointed Safety Officer at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield. A community stadium, which hosts football, rugby league and pop concerts.
During this year a pilot training programme for the Cricket Safety Officers and The Rugby League Safety Officers were planned and delivered.
In June I went to Portugal for the whole of the competition and worked with Euro 2004 assisting in the safety and security of the VIP and VVIPS.
Completed and certificated against the National Vocational Qualification in Spectator Safety Management at level 4.
In March I was appointed Security Co-ordinator for the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in September 2004. I assisted in the writing of the Security Plan and wrote the Operational Plan for the event. We ran a series of desktop exercises at each venue, trying to identify the particular issues that may occur given the teams that were attending. I completed risk assessments for all the events and worked with the Police and Safety Officers to deliver the events at each of the venues. During the event I assessed the event day operation and fed back directly to the Tournament Director David Clarke.
I was approached by West Yorkshire Police to contribute to their Match Commanders’ course during the Emergency desk top scenarios.

2005

Appointed Safety Officer for Southampton FC. Safety Officer for the Elton John Concert in Southampton and Huddersfield.
In May I was approached by CWC 2007 to carry out some training and desk top exercises in the West Indies for the Cricket World Championships, this will take place in 2006.
I have recently been appointed at Event Controller at The Oval, London.
Was appointed Technical Advisor for First4Sport for the new Steward qualification Certificate in Event and Matchday Stewarding, and I am part of the review group for City and Guilds for the National Vocational Qualification in Spectator Control.
I am also working with Celtic Football Club and The Scottish Football Safety Officers Association.

2006

Wrote and delivered a desktop exercise to the CWC 2007 Security Directorate, prior to the ISSS Summit, and delivered a seminar at the conference, based on the Ashes celebration at Trafalgar Square

Wrote and delivered desktop exercises for Twickenham Rugby Union, Murrayfields Stadium in Scotland.
We have carried out Safety Audits of the grounds to be used for the England V Pakistan Series and hold desk top exercises for them, on behalf of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Commissioned to write a new training initiative for the Rugby Football League for Ground Managers, to be used at grounds all over the UK.

Vice Chairman of the FSOA for another year.

Appointed Safety Officer at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, for all their International games, incorporating an Operational role.

Retained as Safety Consultant by Transport for London for the Tour of Britain and the prologue of the Tour de France 2007. Giving advice and guidance to the management team and quality auditing the event management company.

2007

Delivered The FSOA Event and Matchday Safety Management course to SPL Safety Officers in Scotland. Also in October we delivered a pilot programme for the FA of Ireland and GA Association of Ireland.


2008

Appointed Safety Officer at Middlesbrough Football Club.
Appointed to deliver continuous training and assessment in Scotland for the SPL and SFA.

Appointed by The England and Wales Cricket Board to carry out safety Audits for all the Cat C cricket grounds against the profile of the Twenty20 series and make recommendations for change. We also ran desktops in the majority of grounds.

Appointed to deliver a training programme for the Cricket Safety Officers, funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Appointed by the Core Cities Group and The Northern Safety of Sports Ground Group to write and deliver a three day training programme for Members of Safety Advisory Groups around England.

2009

Contract renewed at Middlesbrough Football Club.
Appointed to assess all Scottish Premier League Safety Officers and all First Division Safety Officers and to run 2 more courses for SFL Safety Officers.
Contracted to deliver Security Officer Training and Police training in Uruguay for the Basketball Federation.

Over the years these are some of the activities we have carried for sports grounds and Governing bodies:

  • Responsible for the whole complex / facility
  • Procurement / hire equipment
  • Systems and all tasks ready for event
  • Ground maintenance
  • Risk assessment / Corrective action lists
  • Structural
    • Barriers
    • Advertising boards
    • Maintenance
  • Mechanical
    • Water storage
    • Drainage
    • Plant
    • Landscaping
  • Electrical
    • Lighting
    • Emergency light
    • PA
    • Voice activation
    • Generator
  • Health and Safety
    • RIDDOR
    • Health and Safety Act – legislation
    • Contractors
  • Environmental health
    • Kitchen
    • Tea bars
  • Record keeping for the whole complex
  • Extinguisher planning and maintenance
  • Contract preparation / planning
  • Budget management (Planning and maintenance)
  • Cleaning programme for the whole facility
  • Liaison with
    • Outside caterers / others
    • Contractors
    • Commercial
    • TV
    • Scaffolding
    • Temporary structures
  • Maintenance of training facilities
  • Attendance at meetings
  • Compliance with all legislation
  • Other properties / conference and hotel
  • Support and back up to other club management
  • Method statements
  • Specialist team for match day
  • PAT testing
  • Permits to work
  • Customer charter

 

As a Safety Officer:

  • Risk assessments
    • Stadium
    • Events
    • Staff
    • Systems
    • Equipment
  • Safety
    • Public
    • Staff
    • Other agencies
  • Planning
    • Event
    • Staff development
    • Briefing
    • Liaison with agencies
  • Match day checks
    • Systems
    • Structures
    • Equipment
    • Hazards
    • Staffing levels
  • Communication and liaisons Pre-match, during, post match
    • Disabled groups
    • TV Companies
    • Staff and traffic management site
    • Police, Fire, Ambulance
    • Security
    • Match officials
    • Hospitality
    • Ticket office
    • Other agencies
      • SAG
      • FL
      • FA
      • FLA
      • LA
    • Supporters
    • Team arrival
    • Away Safety Officer and their mascot
    • Mascot
  • Preparing written documentation
  • Respond to incidents / re-deploy staff
  • Problem solving / enforce ground regulations
  • Cash handling and collection
  • Staff deployment
  • Implementation of contingency plans
  • Compliance with safety certificate
  • Monitor of spectator arrival / exit
  • Primacy in operational decision-making
  • Evidence gathering / lost children
  • Enforcing of bans
  • Match reports / stewards wages and lost property
  • Licensing of bars etc
  • Debriefing
    • Staff
    • Agencies
    • Collect reports
  • Post event activities
    • Intelligence processing
    • Post match report to FSOA
    • Checks
    • Liaison with officials
    • Stadium security
    • Media
  • HR role
    • Steward assessment
    • Customer service
    • Customer charter
    • Child protection act
  • Staff involved

 

INTERNAL


Control room
Maintenance
Ground staff
Directors
Catering
Commercial
Stewarding – safety + security
Turnstiles
Car parks
Programme sellers
Ticket office
Mascot
Administration staff
Agency staff

EXTERNAL


Emergency services
St Johns
Paramedics
Doctors
Stewarding agencies
Fire service
Car parks
Match officials
Bands
Teams
Police
Pre and post match entertainment