Staffordshire FA and Stoke City have joined forces to reinforce the Football Association’s ‘Respect’ campaign and Staffordshire FA’s ‘Respect The Armband’ campaign at the Potters’ home fixture against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Both teams, all match officials and matchday mascots will don the ‘Respect’ t-shirts before the game, and you’ll be able to watch a short clip about the initiative on the Club’s big screen pre-match, too.

The ‘Respect’ programme was launched in 2008 in response to concerns at deteriorating behaviour at all levels of football. When launched, it was acknowledged that persistence would be required to tackle the problems that football faces and for the ‘Respect’ measures to have an impact.

On top of this, there will be six Staffordshire FA referees at the game, all of which are under 18. They will showcase the ‘Yellow Armband’ campaign. If a referee is wearing a yellow armband, they are under 18 and are still subject to the children’s safeguarding legislation. Everybody should be protected, encouraged and treated with respect.

Staffordshire FA Chief Executive Officer, Adam Evans, said: “It’s been great to see the support that our leagues and clubs have shown towards the Respect campaign and the Yellow Armband campaign over recent seasons. I have no doubt that this initiative will grow stronger and stronger every season. I’d also like to thank Stoke City for their continued support of grassroots football.”