The FA’s Silent Support Weekend
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th November 2025
(Next event: 14th & 15th March 2026)
Harborough Town FC is proud to once again support The FA’s National Silent Support Weekend, an important initiative designed to promote positive behaviour and create the best possible match-day environment for young players and referees.
Across Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th November, all youth fixtures taking place at the Beehive — and away from home for our junior sides — will take part in the Silent Support approach. The initiative will return again later in the season on 14th & 15th March 2026.
What Is Silent Support Weekend?
Silent Support Weekend encourages spectators to replace verbal instructions with applause-only support, helping young players and referees:
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Find their own voice on the pitch
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Develop confidence and decision-making skills
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Play free from pressure and distracting noise from the sidelines
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Enjoy the game in a calmer, more positive environment
Coaches continue to guide the team as usual — the difference comes from the touchline, where parents and supporters allow the players’ voices to be heard.
Why It Matters
The FA’s research from last season showed clear benefits:
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Respect scores increased significantly for teams involved in Silent Support Weekend
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Little or no improvement was seen for teams who did not take part
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Clubs nationwide reported calmer games, more communication between players, and more confidence shown by young referees
Last season saw record participation, and Harborough Town is proud to help increase those numbers again this year.
What We Ask of Supporters This Weekend
Your presence and encouragement are still vital — but in a different way:
✔️ Applaud good play and effort
✔️ Support all players and referees with positivity
✖️ No shouted instructions or criticism from the sidelines
By creating space for players to express themselves, we help them learn, grow, and enjoy their football even more.
A Message From Harborough Town FC
We are incredibly grateful to all parents, carers, coaches and volunteers who help make our youth section such a positive place. Silent Support Weekend gives us all a chance to reinforce that environment and showcase the very best values of our club.
Thank you, and enjoy the football.
Maz Hayton
Head of Youth & Club Development
Harborough Town Community Trust