Football unit’s latest signing

16 May 2022

West Midlands Police Federation member PC Chris McComisky has been unveiled as the latest signing for the Force’s football unit after taking on the role as dedicated officer for Walsall FC.

Chris is already a well-known face at the Banks’s Stadium having been involved with policing at the club for around eight seasons and serving as response officer in the town before that.

He said ensuring crowd safety was at the heart of his new role which will see him attend every home and away game to engage with supporters and be a visible point of contact for anyone with concerns or questions.

Chris explained: “I am the link between the football club’s directors and chief operating officers and the police during the week and on match days I will link in with the safety officers. We are there mainly for the safety of the crowd.”

Chris prefers to take a proactive approach to dealing with any potential flashpoints and is keen to keep lines of communication open with Walsall supporters and visiting fans.

“A lot of it is about engaging with the fans,” he said, “It is about speaking to them how they like to be spoken to.”

Chris grew up playing football and for many years featured in the West Midlands’ semi-professional leagues playing for the likes of Rushall, Hednesford and, later on in his career, Rocester.

But football took a back seat when he joined West Midlands Police in 2009 and found shift work on response in Walsall was incompatible with the standards required at that level of the non-league game.

His love of the sport remained undimmed, however, and he has managed to keep involved with football throughout most of his policing career.

He said: “I was an operational football officer for about eight seasons and that was always at Walsall so I know the club inside out, the fans know me and the club knows me.

“And I know Walsall well from being a response officer in the town so when this post became available I was desperate to land the job.”

Chris said he hoped the club could win some silverware next season and could even launch a bid for promotion.

“I’m hopeful it’s an exciting time to be here,” he said.