Humberside Police and Hull FC team up to offer players a route into the force
PARTNERS: From left, Hull FC’s Head of Emerging Talent Michael Shenton, Humberside Police Inspector Dave Dosdale, Hull FC’s Head of Youth Pete Riding and Academy Football Manager Sasch Brook
By Rick Lyon
Humberside Police have partnered with Super League side Hull FC to give academy prospects and first team players the chance to join the force at the end of their careers.
Young players who don’t make the first team, as well as those who have enjoyed a successful playing career, have been identified as potential future police officers.
They have important attributes and qualities that would help them become good officers, such as discipline, a strong team ethic and physical fitness.
The partnership is thought to be the first of its kind in the country between a police force and a professional sports club. It is hoped it will now be rolled out across the club’s female and disability teams too.
The initiative is being led Inspector Dave Dosdale, from Humberside Police’s Professional Standards department.
Insp Dosdale has a personal passion for rugby league, playing for both Hull Warriors Masters and Great Britain Police. He has also previously worked on a voluntary basis for Hull FC – the club he has supported for more than 45 years.
He established the partnership primarily as a recruitment avenue for the force, but is also one of the club’s Academy Welfare and Leadership Mentors, utilising his wealth of experience to support and guide young players who do not make it as professionals, as well as those who face the uncertainty of their careers drawing to a close.
“It’s two-pronged,” said Insp Dosdale. “It’s about managing their expectations, but also asking them if they’ve ever thought about a career in the police and offering them that opportunity.
GOOD FIT: Hull FC players could be future Humberside Police officers
“A lot of them are very much the sort of people who we would be interested in – they’re disciplined, they’re fit, they’ve got a team ethic and the vast majority of them would integrate well into the police.
“We’ve had a big recruitment drive over the last 18 months to two years and that’s going to continue as people retire. We’re always needing to replace officers.”
Insp Dosale, one of a number of mentors involved with Hull FC youth programmes, has met academy players, their parents and guardians, and has delivered workshops for the first team squad.
“Some of the younger players are obviously hoping to make it as professional rugby players, but the majority of them won’t and it’s about supporting them to deal with that disappointment,” he said.
“I’ve also been talking to players coming towards the end of their playing careers, as some of them are wondering what they’re going to do next.
“There are a number of individuals I’m talking to who are interested. It helps them, career-wise, and it helps us in terms of bringing people into the organisation who would be a good fit.
“We have quite a young workforce when it comes to frontline officers, so we’d also like to attract people who have a bit more life experience as well. I didn’t join the police until I was 35, so I can speak from experience.”
Insp Dosdale is the Force Lead for Age, tasked with addressing age-related issues that impact on Humberside Police, both internally and externally.
He has also been a hostage and crisis negotiator for 12 years and has a deep understanding of issues relating to mental health.
“I wanted to get out in the community and look at what we can do to support young individuals from a sporting environment who may need to deal with not making it as a professional sports star,” said Insp Dosdale.
“I know a lot of the staff at Hull FC, so I thought it was a good opportunity to get in there and speak to them about how we can help manage the expectations of some of the younger players and offer them an alternative career.
“I go into the academy and talk to them about managing their own mental health welfare, looking after their colleagues and spotting the signs when someone is struggling.”
Insp Dosdale has been contacted by other forces across the country to find out more about the partnership and said the current arrangement is “just the start”.
“It’s something we’d like to roll out to other sporting organisations,” he said.
“The aim is to expand to the Hull FC Ladies and Physical Disability teams as well, along with other clubs.
“It had to start somewhere, but we want to widen it out because we’re an inclusive organisation.”
GRATEFUL: Hull FC Chief Executive James Clark
Hull FC have placed a key emphasis on youth development, including a significant investment into new facilities at the University of Hull, which was announced recently.
Humberside Police are also utilising the club’s community facilities for officer training, as part of a growing relationship between both organisations.
Hull FC Chief Executive James Clark believes the partnership will be invaluable to the club and its players.
“We’re extremely grateful to Dave for his work in this area,” he said. “He’s a real asset for us and it’s already having a notable impact as we look to align both organisations.
“The welfare of our players is paramount, at all ages, and our Centre of Excellence is about far more than just producing good young rugby league players.
“We are nurturing them as young men and women, as role models for the club and the community and to create the best possible opportunities for them in later life – which may not just be within rugby league.
“Humberside Police can now provide them with another exit route, alongside our other stakeholders and the University of Hull, helping us deliver an unrivalled experience for our players.”
“The qualities and characteristics we’re striving for from our players and staff within our environment are well matched to a career with the police force and we’re really encouraged to see where this partnership can take us.”