The proposal of a Club Licensing system within the member nations of UEFA was first presented in Autumn 2000. UEFA proposed a model European standard for football and after consultation with those nations; the final UEFA proposals were approved in 2002. The Football Association of Wales has worked tirelessly to produce its Club Licensing Manual, which was accredited by UEFA in June 2003. The manual is transparent and consistent to UEFA standards, although the Association was permitted to submit some exceptions, which were thankfully granted and are discussed later.

The benefits of the system are never-ending, as the system sets out quality standards and procedures by which clubs will be assessed for continual improvement. Evidently, the focus is on establishing a higher set of standards within Welsh domestic football, which subsequently benefits all concerned in the football community, from spectators to stakeholders and players to physiotherapists.

The standards are presented in the form of five criteria headings, which are Infrastructure, Sporting (Youth and Coaching), Legal, Personnel & Administration and Financial. The FAW manual is almost a 150-page document and consequently, it would be both impossible and uninspiring for me to articulate in this editorial, every criterion within the manual, but I will endeavour to highlight those, which I consider are the most significant.

The Infrastructure category is concerned with safety and security, the field of play, players and officials, spectators and the media. Clubs must hold a stadium safety certificate, which is no more than two years old and must also have an approved stadium evacuation plan. All stadia must have a minimum of 1,000, individual and fixed seats for grounds wishing to stage UEFA Preliminary Round matches. This figure is significantly less than the 3,000 suggested in the UEFA manual, and was granted by UEFA as an exception for the Football Association of Wales. The provision of floodlighting was also a granted exception for the FAW. Licensed clubs will have to have a minimum of 500 Lux floodlighting available for all evening matches. Finally, clubs should provide a drug-testing room for players in the immediate vicinity of the dressing room area, which has toilet and showering facilities. Similarly, the club will provide provision and expertise for the first aid treatment of spectators, players and officials.

The Sporting element of the licensing procedure is concerned with coaching and youth development. The Head Coach of the club should have the equivalent of an FAW ‘A’ Licence, but should also be working towards the UEFA Pro Licence Diploma. Each club shall have a minimum of one youth team at Under 18, as well as two other youth teams at other age-grade levels, which compete in an FAW recognised youth competition.

The third section is concerned with the legal entity of the club. The Club must have in place Club Statutes, it must play in recognised FAW Competitions, abide by Licensing Regulations, supply the Association with its authorised signatories and also must provide Security of Tenure for the ground they wish to play their European fixtures in.

Administratively, the club will have to appoint a General Manager, a Club Secretary, a Financial Officer, a Head of Security and a Head of Youth Development at the very least, in order to meet with the licence guidelines. It is also essential that a certified Doctor and a Chartered Physiotherapist are available at all home games.

All of the clubs should observe good financial practice, and they will have to provide the Licensor with a copy of their audited financial statements by the end of February. The clubs must not have any overdue payables from transfer activities or towards employees. Failure to achieve this would result in the rejection of a license.

A final element of the licensing procedure is concerned with codes of practice. These are not essential, but are seen as best practice. Although not a requirement by UEFA, the FAW sees the Codes of Practice as a great way to improving certain standards in Welsh domestic football. The section includes child and coach protection, the supporter’s charter, equity issues, community involvement and fair play. Some examples of the criteria within this section are that clubs should identify a Child Protection Officer and also annually review its supporter’s charter. They should demonstrate their support for various campaigns aimed at addressing equity issues, through their newsletters or match programmes as well as promoting community activity. Finally, clubs shall be able to demonstrate a support of the Fair Play principle.

All Welsh Premier League clubs underwent the licensing process throughout the season 2003/2004, in preparation for the first assessment in April 2004.The first licensed clubs were announced in April 2004, after all of the Welsh Premier clubs submitted their licence application to a First Instance Body. This committee granted a License to Newtown AFC only. Rhyl FC, TNS, Haverfordwest County and Aberystwyth Town were all granted a License upon appeal in May. The process will be ongoing and a similar timescale will be followed in future seasons. It is also important to mention that a Special Licence can be applied for by a club, who has qualified for a UEFA Competition based on it’s sporting achievements from outside the Welsh Premier League, (i.e. by winning the Welsh Cup) in order to be eligible to participate in European competition in the following season.

Consequently, there has been a lot of work and liasing between the member clubs and the Association’s Licensing team since the introduction of the system in season 2003/2004. However, the benefits to be gained for all concerned within the Welsh football community, certainly warrants the commitment and dedication required.

Andrew Howard
Football Association of Wales
Club Licensing Officer

If anyone would like any more information regarding the Club Licensing procedure, please do not hesitate to