In partnership with Bangor 1876, the Gwynedd North Policing Team and the Football Association of Wales have announced that a Football Community Liaison Officer has been appointed for the football club.

PCSO Ash Dacre has worked within the local policing team for twelve years and brings to this aspect of his role a vast amount of policing knowledge, skills, and experience. On a personal note, Ash is an avid supporter of Southampton FC, however he does follow non-league football locally.

The Football Community Liaison Officer role will see Ash undertake the following work.

  1. Act as link between District Police Management and Bangor 1876 Football Club
  2. Research previous match history between sides – dates, attendances, any issues?
  3. Liaise with clubs and representatives in the lead up to any fixture that may be considered a risk game.
  4. Maintain contact with the FAW on football arrangements for fixtures
  5. To have formal discussions with the club to release messages on social media in the days leading up to a game regarding increased police presence, fan behaviour and the consequences of misbehaving etc. There will be club bans if offenders can be identified.
  6. Provide education to club officials and supporters in relation to the use of pyrotechnics and the law surrounding their use.
  7. Attend at home fixtures – where applicable
  8. Attend at away fixtures, where it is considered that there could be potential issues.
  9. Act as a point of contact should any club official or supporter have any non-urgent issues they wish to discuss.
  10. Identify and respond to potential criminal offences that have been committed by supporters or others.

Inspector Andrew Davies, of the Gwynedd North Policing Team, said: “Since the commencement of this season there has been some fantastic partnership work between ourselves, Bangor 1876 and the FAW with the aim being to collectively improve supporters match day experience at Nantporth and at away fixtures across North Wales, involving the football club.

“The appointment of PCSO Dacre as Football Community Liaison Officer, shows our continued commitment to working with Bangor 1876 and I am confident that Ash’s appointment will go a long way to ensuring that public safety and supporter enjoyment remain very much the priority and focus for us all”.

Glynne Roberts, Chairman, Bangor 1876, said: “We also welcome the appointment of Ash as our Football Community Liaison Office, and we look forward to continuing our partnership work with North Wales Police and the FAW for the remainder of the season and the years to come. The club and I are committed to ensuring that supporter experience and safety, at both home and away grounds, continue to be at the forefront of everything we do.

“We have already demonstrated this season that as a club we won’t tolerate any supporter, representing Bangor 1876, who engages in acts of disorder, violence, or verbal abuse.

“We are proud to be a fan-owned club, working at the heart of our community. Therefore, anyone found to be not representing the club in the spirit that is expected will have positive action taken against them, which sadly may result in club bans being imposed.”

Photo: North Wales Police