The first team squad, accompanied by Manager, Nigel Pearson and his backroom staff, were pictured with County FA, Leicester City and Leicester City Football Club In The Community staff for the launch.
City boss, Nigel Pearson, said: “We are delighted to be involved with the Respect Campaign. This is critical within modern football and officials are an essential part of the game from the park to the Premier League.”
Laurence Jones, Chief Executive of the Leicestershire & Rutland CFA said: “I am delighted that the club is giving their full support to the Respect Programme and are working closely with the County FA to change attitudes and to improve behaviour at all levels of the game.”
He added: “The players and the club are role models for many young players throughout the city and county. By embracing the Respect Programme, the club is sending a very strong message to everyone involved in the game.”
Kelly Ellis, County Development Manager, said: “The partnership between Leicester City Football Club, LCFC Football in the Community and Leicestershire & Rutland CFA, goes from strength to strength. We are delighted that Leicester City are working with us on a challenging issue for the game.”
Kelly added: “We aim to provide the best environment for all our players and to see the professional club, led by the manager Nigel Pearson, embracing Respect gives us belief in moving forward.”
Marion Hayton, Respect Lead Officer, said: “Our aim is to ensure there are fun and safer environments around young players and better atmospheres around senior players. Out of the 20 leagues in Leicestershire & Rutland, we now have all the 8 Youth Leagues and 4 Senior Leagues signed up to Respect.”
Marion added: “This is a great achievement and it shows that a lot of the leagues and the clubs involved want to stamp out bad behaviours in and around the field of play. We know how hard it is to get referees to officiate games and some of it is down to not having enough referees around. They leave the game as they cannot tolerate being abused. It is only down to a few individuals who give the game a bad name. We would like to see every individual take responsibility and before acting in a way that will be deemed to be abusive or disrespectful, they must think. Failing that, they must be accountable to their actions.”
The Partnership with Leicester City FC came about the same time the FA released A Respect Guide for Parents and Carers DVD. For further information on the Respect Programme please contact Marion Hayton, Respect Lead Officer and Senior Development Officer at Leicestershire & Rutland CFA or visit www.leicestershirefa.com. - RESPECT