Supporter Liaison Officer training for top level clubs completed

Article and photograph courtesy of faw.cymru

The FAW has completed the first full Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) training programme, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the relationship between clubs and their fans across the JD Cymru Premier.

Delivered in partnership with the UEFA Academy and Football Supporters Europe (FSE), the four-day programme recently took place in Cardiff over two sessions.

The course follows strict UEFA and FSE standards, highlighting the importance and credibility of the SLO role in modern football governance and supporter engagement.

Growing Network of SLOs in Wales

To date, 12 SLO’s have now been appointed at JD Cymru Premier clubs alongside two representatives from Newtown and Aberystwyth Town who joined the programme before the end of last season. This provides clubs across the country with a trusted point of contact between supporters, boards, and operations teams.

The current network of SLOs is as follows (North Wales clubs in bold):

Aberystwyth Town – Ethan Pollitt
Bala Town – Joe Taft
Barry Town – Stephen Davies
Briton Ferry Llansawel AFC – Kevin Rootes
Caernarfon Town – Bethan Roberts
Cardiff Met – Matthew James
Colwyn Bay – Andrew Fraser & Neil Williams
Connah’s Quay Nomads – Rory McCallum
Flint Town United – Charlie Roberts
Haverfordwest County – Dan Devine
Llanelli Town – TBC
Newtown – Mark Tanner
Penybont – Kevin Knight
The New Saints – Michael Davies

What is an SLO?

The Supporter Liaison Officer is a trusted bridge between fans and clubs, building two-way dialogue and mutual understanding. Unlike security or stewards, SLOs are not enforcement staff and are credible, independent voices who gather and share information both ways, supporting communication and service.

A Role Shaped for the JD Cymru Premier

While UEFA provides a framework for the role, each country and league adapts the SLO model to suit its infrastructure and needs. In Wales, the emphasis is on practical supporter engagement and strengthening relationships between boards and fans.

SLOs are already helping clubs to:

Improve governance, safety, and service.
Enable year-round dialogue and post-match feedback.
Support inclusion and accessibility.
Connect Welsh clubs to the wider European SLO network.

SLOs are already active and contactable, with visibility on matchdays and communication channels continuing to grow. The long-term ambition is for the role to become a recognised and trusted part of domestic football, ensuring the supporter voice remains at the heart of the game in Wales.