Safe-Standing petition

[Alexander Litvinenko]

well as you said it's going to take a brave government to change the law and with the renewed anger following the Hillsborough report and Cameron, making a public appology for what happened any decision to allow a trial period of safe standing won't happen any time soon - ..

I didn't say that at all. If anything, I said quite the opposite. I said that I think the Hillsborough report has reduced any link between the disaster and standing, and that change in government is coming because demands are coming from within football itself.

[Divvy]

Thanks for the detail, AL.

My preference would be the back 10-15 rows being standing. That way the club doesn't have to lose any rows due to sight-lines, and I get a better view. Selfish opinion obviously, but we all have a preference. Also the noise generated would carry more with the roof above us, whereas if standing/singing was first ten rows, the noise will just filter away into the ether.

[AthleticoSpizz]

What is the definition of safe standing at a football match these days?....an honest question

Proper control of crowd numbers in confined spaces?

Prevention of crowd surges (eg. Southbank when a goal was scored)?

Further dividing fences to prevent the sideways migration of the baying mob (eg. Southbank, when the opposition scored etc)

The physc and ethos of fans these days isn't what it was then?

[Divvy]

What is the definition of safe standing at a football match these days?....an honest question

Proper control of crowd numbers in confined spaces?

Prevention of crowd surges (eg. Southbank when a goal was scored)?

Both of those. Nowadays the clubs have full control of who is attending games. Surges simply wouldn't be able to happen with the barriers. It is exactly what it says, and I hope we see it return to our game very soon.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Thanks, and I hope your right.

But I think attitudes need to change a bit too, maybe the news of the past few days may act as a bit of a catalyst.

[paultheroyal]

To answer the last question - at a FSF meeting in Manchester.

To answer the questions about capacity of safe-standing : Look at the steps in this picture :



Where you get one row of people sitting (because of the length of their thighs & feet when sitting) you can get two rows when standing - hence the intermediate step.

But people standing are a little bit "wider" than people sitting (as they move from side to side more), so the formula is, as posted above, an increase in capacity of 80% (2 rows of 9 standing take the same space as 1 row of 10 sitting, 18 rather than 10.)

To clear up another couple of points :

- the "seats in the above picture are hardly ever used and are irrelevant to the use of this area as a safe-standing area. They're locked in that upright position and not available to the supporter to use when this is a safe-standing area. They're only there so that if the ground hosts a European or World Cup tie the seats can be used with the lower capacity. So it's important to understand that this are is EITHER a safe-standing OR a seated area. It's NOT a standing area where people get an optional seat if they want to sit there.

- Regarding safe-standing at the the MadStad, the current rake of the stands makes it very difficult to implement these areas without major work. So it's not going to happen soon - but there's the prospect of the stadium expansion coming up, so if the law is changed by that time then there are real possibilities.

As to where ... opinions are divided on this. The North SStand would be a good idea, and there'd be real noise from there if it happened and also fewer flashpoints with away supporters so that's a good idea, but personally I like the concept that Archibald Leach had all those years ago - a standing "paddock" in front of a main stand. So I'd like to see the first 10 rows or so of the East Stand safe-standing areas, then the rows behind sitting rows (of course, you'd need to lose a couple of rows because of sight-lines, but the additional capacity would compensate for that. Personal opinion, but I think that'd be brilliant and create a great atmosphere all along the ground.

Excellent post and really useful information. I was in the negative camp as you well know but with this explanation and pics attached I can understand a desire to move back to this.

I know it's not connected but Hillsborough always plays on people's minds and will be hard to change that mindset.

[larry1971]

well as you said it's going to take a brave government to change the law and with the renewed anger following the Hillsborough report and Cameron, making a public appology for what happened any decision to allow a trial period of safe standing won't happen any time soon - ..

I didn't say that at all. If anything, I said quite the opposite. I said that I think the Hillsborough report has reduced any link between the disaster and standing, and that change in government is coming because demands are coming from within football itself.

sorry for mis quoting you..

[East Stand Ste]

i really miss the southbank surge actually!!

[Ian Royal]

i really miss the southbank surge actually!!

Yeah, but it was rarely that dangerous because it was rarely packed.

[Mary Hinge]

i really miss the southbank surge actually!!

Yeah, but it was rarely that dangerous because it was rarely packed.

Yes.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

i really miss the southbank surge actually!!

Yeah, but it was rarely that dangerous because it was rarely packed.

There were a few moments, Pompy, Millwall to name but two.

It wasnt that dangerous because there was not a fence pitchside, IF there had been there are occasions when people would have been badly hurt, Hillsborough was always going to happen when fans were penned in if not there then somewhere else.

[John Peel]

For anyone interested in the safe standing campaign:

http://www.intouchcrm.co.uk/app/e/v/566 ... -1752.aspx

Details of the petition here:

http://www.fsf.org.uk/petitions/safestanding.php

[Green]

Another one (Serious question btw - is this a new campaign?)

If not http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=105011

[Alexander Litvinenko]

Another one (Serious question btw - is this a new campaign?)

If not http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=105011

Same campaign, but soon to go into overdrive to coincide with a big political push.

[Geekins]

Just signed.

[RepressedRoyal]

I heard on Radio 5 this afternoon that Aston Villa are giving serious consideration to proposals of a standing area at Villa Park.

I think this would be a great addition to the Mad Stad, we could even take it a step further by getting Anglian to fit some windows for STAR members to have a good lick on.

Thoughts anyone?

[Eaststandman]

I heard on Radio 5 this afternoon that Aston Villa are giving serious consideration to proposals of a standing area at Villa Park.

I think this would be a great addition to the Mad Stad, we could even take it a step further by getting Anglian to fit some windows for STAR members to have a good lick on.

Thoughts anyone?

I think you may have underestimated the mental capacity of the average member of STAR!

[Royal91]

We won't have standing areas because were a crappy family club

[Rex]

We won't have standing areas because were a crappy family club

Y25/26 manage it through a relaxed policy. It's a compromise at the moment.

[jonnye5]

looking through the news today, it's starting to really gain momentum. I really hope this happens at the madejski because the atmosphere is awful.