'National standing at matches' day

[Guy Fawkes]

I believe that there should be a national campaign to bring terraces back into the modern game in this country.

I propose that there should be a National 'stand throughout the whole match' day, so that if the fans of every club in the country that plays at an all seater ground were to all stand for the full ninety minutes on a given day, it would give a tremendous push for the subject of standing at matches to be reviewed again by the people in authority, and try to come up with some solution that would possibly allow terraces back into the game!

One incident in which people died does not mean that terraces were unsafe in principle, if managed properly, then there should be no reason why one or more stands couldn't be made into terracing again (plus helping with the affordability issues of fan attendance)

For example in Germany, they have a safe standing area as well as seating, and i can't see why something similar can't be adopted here

What does everybody else think?

 

[clapham_gull]

I think it will never happen to be honest.

Standing in seating areas can be dangerous (I think stats bear that out actually where lower limb injuries are concerned, not that I know where to find them..)

But at the end of the day, the safety issues are a red herring (in my opinion)

The reason terraces will never return is that it's far, far easier now to identify individuals in stadium who are being a bit naughty.

A hundred times easier - because at some point they will be sitting and they can't escape form the CCTV.

The authorities won't say as much, but I believe it that's the MAJOR reason they don't want terraces back.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Don't confuse the German "safe standing areas" with what we call terraces.

 

[wehatepalace]

Don't confuse the German "safe standing areas" with what we call terraces.

Very true Lord B, but the bottom line is they CAN Stand at a Football match.
I fail to see why the relevant authorities over here, can claim that (for instance)500 standing supporters each with an allocated ticket is any more dangerous than 500 seated supporters each with an allocated ticket.
I don't think the majority of fans want to go back to the old ways of packing everyone in like sardines(although those were the good old days )and I think most people will realise that will never happen but is it against the realms of possibility that a safe standing area where each individual fan has an area of space allocated to him, with each row of fans in between two crush bars, thus avoiding the old style crushes and surges could be implemented with relative ease

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Personally I prefer seating because

a. I'm quite lazy really and
b. I'm a short-arse - so it's quite difficult to see when everyone else is standing.

 

[Tesco in Disguise]

all the more reason, dicky, for you to support safe standing areas. you can sit all game with your like-minders, and others can stand all game. the idea helps everyone.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

all the more reason, dicky, for you to support safe standing areas. you can sit all game with your like-minders, and others can stand all game. the idea helps everyone.

Yup, there is that TiD. Maybe rather than having singing sections etc. we should have a section for under 6 footers, one for 6-6' 4" and anyone over 6' 4" can hold the floodlights !

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Can we invite Dick Knight's nephew back as special guest?

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Personally I prefer seating because

a. I'm quite lazy really and
b. I'm a short-arse - so it's quite difficult to see when everyone else is standing.

Have you ever thought about standing at the front ?

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Have you ever thought about standing at the front ?

Doh, never occured to me. But it's still 'standing' isn't it !

 

[Uncle Buck]

A 'National Standing Day' would be a complete non starter as the clubs would not allow it as they would be in breach of their safety licence. Trafford Council have threatened Man U a couple of times with closing sections of the ground due to constant standing during games.

A 'National Standing Day' would end up as a battle with stewards.

 

[Caveman]

Worth a punt and some kind of standing sections though surely?

 

[Wardy]

The government have nailed their colours firmly to the mast on the issue of standing at games. I agree though that the safety issue is not what they are making it out to be.

 

[sully]

A simple Google search of "safe standing" suggests your idea is not new!

 

[pasty]

I fail to see why the relevant authorities over here, can claim that (for instance)500 standing supporters each with an allocated ticket is any more dangerous than 500 seated supporters each with an allocated ticket.
I don't think the majority of fans want to go back to the old ways of packing everyone in like sardines(although those were the good old days )and I think most people will realise that will never happen but is it against the realms of possibility that a safe standing area where each individual fan has an area of space allocated to him, with each row of fans in between two crush bars, thus avoiding the old style crushes and surges could be implemented with relative ease

Totally agree. Terraces were deemed unsafe from the days when an unspecified number of people were allowed in them. I see no reason why some boffiny health and safety type person can't come up with an x square feet per x number of people calculation to make a safe standing area feasible. If it comes to it, get the ticket purchaser to sign a disclaimer saying they won't sue the arse off the club if they get hurt !

I hate sitting down at football (although I always do as I am a kind and considerate person to those sat behind me).

 

[Kenhead]

Wasn't there something at Wycombe a few weeks ago along this line?

 

[Renns]

will never happen