Edited by Carolyn Kent – Women’s Football Hub
In this week’s episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with safeguarding consultant Sally O’Donnell, whose career spans the criminal justice system, the NSPCC, and player care in professional football academies. With a rare blend of personal and professional insight, Sally helps us unpack what safeguarding really means—and why it should matter to everyone in the game, from grassroots to elite level.
From the Prison Service to the Pitch
Sally’s journey into safeguarding is anything but ordinary. From her early days as a prison officer to running youth hostels and eventually joining the NSPCC, her expertise has always centered around protecting vulnerable people. When her sons started playing grassroots football, Sally naturally stepped in as the club welfare officer—a role that sparked her move into safeguarding at a professional football academy.
“If I could help, and that was my skillset—I was in.”
What Safeguarding Really Means in Football
Too often, the word safeguarding immediately triggers thoughts of abuse or criminal investigations. But as Sally points out, it’s about so much more than that. Safeguarding is about physical, emotional, and psychological safety—and ensuring that everyone, from children to staff to fans, feels protected and heard.
“Safeguarding isn’t just a policy—it’s part of getting the best out of people.”
Whether it’s helping a young player through a bereavement or managing risky sideline behaviour, clubs must create a culture where safety, trust, and collaboration are central.
The Policies That Protect Players
Sally outlines a set of core policies every football club should have in place:
- ✅ Safeguarding policy (for both children and adults)
- ✅ Code of conduct for players, parents, coaches, and staff
- ✅ Safer recruitment processes
- ✅ Allegations and whistleblowing procedures
“If someone is wearing your club’s badge—paid or unpaid—they need to be vetted.”
These are not just documents for compliance—they’re foundations for building trust.
Spotting Red Flags and Shifting the Culture
From coaches shouting at young players to blurred boundaries between staff and players, Sally stresses the importance of identifying red flag behaviours early. She challenges the old-school mindset of the “hairdryer treatment” (brought up by me) and calls for a new model of leadership.
“If a teacher or boss shouted at you like that, would you accept it?”
Instead, she advocates for environments where feedback is constructive, not destructive. Empowering players means listening, educating, and creating space for them to speak up.
The Role of Parents & Caregivers
Parents play a powerful role in safeguarding—often without realising it. Sally encourages them to:
- Find the right club for their child’s personality and goals
- Support club values, especially from the sidelines
- Ask their children what kind of support they want
“Your child should drive the conversation. Not your nostalgia.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Clubs
Sally now runs SO Training and Consulting, helping clubs of all sizes build robust safeguarding strategies. Whether it’s a policy review, safeguarding training, or setting up club-wide systems, her message is clear: don’t go it alone.
“You’d get an accountant for your money—why not a safeguarding expert for your people?”
🚀 Key Takeaways
- Safeguarding is about creating emotionally, physically, and psychologically safe spaces.
- Every club needs clear policies, codes of conduct, and accountability structures.
- Boundaries and behaviour expectations must be set early—and modelled by adults.
- Empowering players starts with listening, role modelling, and collaborative culture.
- Safeguarding isn’t a checkbox—it’s a mindset.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms or download here
🔗 Connect with Sally O’Donnell – Check out her toolkit: https://safeguarding-so.co.uk/play-it-safe/
📢 What does safeguarding look like at your club? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This blog post was created with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).
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