Friday 30th April 2021

Royal Wootton Bassett Town will be taking part in English football's boycott of social media from 3pm on Friday 30 April to 11.59pm on Monday 3 May. Given this, the club's social media accounts will remain silent for the duration of the boycott.

The boycott is being held in response to the level of discriminatory abuse received online by players and other members of the football family – a situation that must not be tolerated and which social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram must do more to tackle.

Social media is an important, valuable outlet, not just for those in the professional game, but for all football clubs, including Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

And we welcome the opportunities social media provides to promote our club and its successes, and to allow our members, supporters and opponents to engage with what goes on at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

It is also an important outlet for many of our members, who can use social media to get closer to their heroes in the game.

But, unfortunately, a minority also use social media – often anonymously – to target individuals with hateful, hurtful, discriminatory abuse.

As a result, English football – and many from the wider sporting community – are coming together to emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate.

Players and members from across Royal Wootton Bassett Town have recorded the message which can be seen in the video on this page explaining why RWBTFC supports the boycott – and why all forms of discrimination and abuse have no place in football and must not be tolerated.

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For more information on English football's social media boycott, please see here on the Football Association website, or here on the website of Kick It Out – English football's equality and inclusion organisation.

RWBTFC's Social Media Policy

All RWBTFC members, as well as parents and guardians, who use social media are advised to read and familiarise themselves with the club's Social Media Policy.

This can be read here.

The policy document outlines details regarding how the club uses its official social media accounts as well as the responsibilities of RWBTFC members when using their own personal accounts.

Last modified on Friday 30th April 2021 at 05:00.