Paul ColstonMore than 20,400 fans visited Coventry Building Society Arena to see England’s Lionesses face South Africa on 29 October.
It was a major night of international sport at the venue and also marked a significant milestone for the stadium, with four women leading the safety team for the first time.
Claire Harkness, operations director at the Arena, was safety officer for the evening and was supported by Katie Greenfield, chief steward; Emily Kelly, deputy chief steward, and Elaine Wood, external safety manager.
Claire Harkness has more than 29 years’ experience in event management, venue operations and event safety and said: “This was a first for Coventry Building Society Arena but it certainly won’t be the last time we run an event of this scale with an all-female led safety team.
“It was a proud moment for me and the team, who worked tirelessly to deliver a brilliant event and ensure all visitors to the stadium for the Lionesses fixture were able to enjoy the match in a safe environment.
“From my experience it is incredibly rare to have a safety team led by all females but that shows how the events and venue industry is changing.
“Katie and Emily have been with the venue for a number of years, starting out as matchday stewards and now leading teams, and it has been wonderful to see how they have developed over the last 12 months.”
The venue is set to celebrate its 20th birthday next year.
Photo caption: Katie Greenfield, Claire Harkness and Emily Kelly