Saluting SLOs!

Date: 6th April 2020

In these extremely difficult times it’s vastly important that football clubs continue to keep communication open between themselves and their supporters. 

Clubs are have managed to keep their social media channels open and they are a great way to relay important messages to fans. I’ve already pointed out that St Johnstone have gone further and their manager and players have been on the phone to contact vulnerable fans. 

Another key component for certain football clubs, in keeping in touch with their fans, is their  Supporters Liaison Officers (SLOs). They too are on social media and most of them from Scotland seem very keen to communicate during this Covid-19 crisis. 

People understandably have many queries about whats going on. Can the club help with a community project? What’s happening regarding season tickets for next season? 

As well as answering these types of questions the SLOs have also been quick to retweet all important tweets from their respective sides and messages regarding charity work from the local community. 

They are also quick to post messages of support and retweet great tweets being sent into them from fans. These are all positive steps to lift the mood and show people that football clubs in Scotland are here to help and listen to them. 

I’ve consistently said for a few years now that the position of a Supporters Liaison Officer is now a very important one within a football club. They prove a much needed bridge between boardrooms and the terraces. They provide the support an ear to listen to their issues and a voice to communicate their problems or praise to the club’s key-holders.

In my eyes this crisis has shown us that SLOs are fast becoming football’s key workers and are essential when it comes to communication between the football club and it’s support.

I salute every single one of Supporter Liaison Officer’s that are currently working from home and still creating links for those fans that need cheering up or listened to in this unique situation. 

I would like to pass on my condolences to Hamilton Academical SLO Sean McHugh who lost his father to this terrible virus recently. If any Accies fan has any queries regarding the club they should contact them directly at office@acciesfc.co.uk at this time. 

I would also like to dedicate this blog post to Eric Bennett. 

I met Eric earlier this year as I filmed a short video discussing his beloved Cumnock Juniors Community Enterprise. Eric was so passionate about football and making it empower and enrich the whole community and beyond. He was an absolute gentleman and I know he’ll be deeply missed by everyone at the Enterprise, Cumnock Juniors and the local community of Cumnock. 

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