Junior Club Takes Unusual Step: Bouncers at Matches as Safeguarding Priority

When Petershill FC became the first club in its league to hire ‘badged security marshals’ (“bouncers”) after a serious supporter incident, it wasn’t just about damage repair — it was about safeguarding, culture and operational accountability.

The incident involved pyrotechnics thrown onto the pitch, CCTV cameras ripped down, fans masked and trying to access equipment stores. The Scottish Sun The club’s ground-managing trust announced they would not permit further matches until clearer stewarding, turnstile controls and participant-behaviour safeguards were in place. The Scottish Sun

What this means for the sport / events community:

• Proactive safeguards aren’t just for premium venues — smaller clubs are now required to guarantee safe environments.

• Behaviour, crowd culture and venue management all sit under the broader “safeguarding” umbrella.

• The chain of accountability matters: who owns each decision point (venue, club, trust, stewards)? If clarity is lacking, risk amplifies.

Questions for reflection:

• At your next event or fixture: how many people would you need badged stewards to feel confident about spectator behaviour?

• Do your venue contracts clearly define roles, stewarding levels and thresholds for escalation?

• After every match / event: are you scheduled to look back on behavioural trends and fix processes for next time?