Football clubs and sports grounds will gather at Watford FC this July to discuss matchday readiness, SAG relationships, Martyn’s Law, Hillsborough Law, Showstop procedure and operational best practice ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Halo Solutions has announced the launch of KICKOFF//26, a new sports-focused pre-season readiness event taking place at Watford FC on Wednesday 8 July 2026.

The free-to-attend event has been created for football club and sports ground professionals involved in safety, stewarding, control room operations, security, stadium operations and matchday planning. Hosted at Watford FC, KICKOFF//26 will bring together clubs, industry specialists and the Halo team for a practical day focused on the checks, conversations and operational improvements teams can make before the 2026/27 season begins.

Designed as a practical alternative to a traditional conference, KICKOFF//26 will cover key themes shaping football and sports ground operations, including working effectively with Safety Advisory Groups, Martyn’s Law and approved training, Showstop for matchdays and non-matchdays, operational reporting, evidence, accountability and pre-season IMS readiness.

The agenda includes sessions from industry speakers including Steve Laws from Taylor Bridges, Steve Allen from Pink Bows/Showstop, and a representative of Hillsborough Law Now on what a legal duty of candour will mean for clubs.

Halo Solutions will also run a practical user-training session looking at how football clubs can use the Halo System to support pre-season preparation, matchday management, incident reporting, operational visibility and utilise new feature uplifts ahead of the new season.

Lloyd Major, Founder and CEO of Halo Solutions, said:

“Pre-season is when clubs actually have a bit of breathing room to fix the things that become painful once fixtures start. KICKOFF//26 is about getting the right people in the room, sharing what works and helping clubs feel prepared before matchday pressure kicks back in.”

He added:

“Football safety and operations teams deal with a huge amount behind the scenes. From stewarding and control room communication to reporting, escalation and working with partners, there are so many moving parts that need to be ready before the first fixture. This event is designed to be useful, practical and relevant to the people who make matchday happen.”

KICKOFF//26 is free to attend, with lunch and refreshments included. Places are limited, open to both existing Halo customers and clubs and sports grounds interested in improving matchday readiness and operational processes.

Event details

Event: KICKOFF//26
Date: Wednesday 8th July 2026
Venue: Watford FC, Elton John Suite
Arrival: From 9:30am
Start: 10:00am
Cost: Free to attend (registration required)

Football clubs and sports grounds can view the agenda and register at:
https://www.halosolutions.com/halo-pre-season-football-conference/