The primary purpose of this part of the web site is to provide information to help Football Conference clubs understand the requirements that will be placed upon them following promotion to the Football League and to provide links to sources of detailed information which will help them in planning how to meet those requirements.

When a Football Conference club is promoted to the Football League it may for the first time require a

• safety certificate which covers the whole ground.
• It will also require a licence from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA).
• If the ground contains any standing accommodation the SGSA will require the terracing to be brought up to a prescribed standard.
• Similarly if the ground contains insufficient seating the Football League will require the club to install additional seating. Both the SGSA and the Football League impose deadlines for such up-grading to be completed.

In determining the safe capacity of the ground account should be taken of both its physical condition (P) factor and the clubs safety management (S) factor. Ground management should ensure that these factors are assessed by a competent person with a knowledge and understanding of the ground. Where a ground, or parts of a ground, are covered by a safety certificate these assessments should be included with the capacity calculations when they are forwarded to the local authority for review and validation prior to the setting of the certified capacity for the ground.

Although the SGSA’s regulatory role does not extend to clubs in the Football Conference we are happy to provide general advice and guidance to clubs on the interpretation and application of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds  or any of our Sports Grounds and Stadia Guides.