With a new season about to start and the hope of great things, this season, from our local side it is great to see the club putting safety at the top of it’s agenda.

Cambridge United supporters and visitors to the team’s R Costings Abbey Stadium will be kept safe and secure thanks to the backing of Cambridgeshire Trading Standards.

Trading Standards Operations Manager Malcolm Taylor, who is also chairman of the CUFC Safety Advisory Group, recently presented NVQ certificates to newly qualified safety stewards.

Cambridgeshire Trading Standards is responsible for ensuring required safety standards are met at sporting venues across the county.

Malcolm Taylor, said: “It was a pleasure to present NVQ certificate to the newly qualified safety stewards as it shows the club’s commitment to keeping their safety systems in good order and ensuring a safe environment for spectators to their stadium.”

Trading Standards work closely with CUFC groundsman and safety officer Ian Darler, to ensure the stadium meets all the required safety legislation and match day staff are correctly trained and qualified.

Ian Darler said: “A lot of hard work goes in to keeping the R Costings Abbey stadium a safe place for supporters to attend fixtures, I am really pleased with the commitment from all my match day staff.”

I am looking forward to watching some good football this year at surely one of the friendliest grounds around. Let’s get back into the football league.