Paul Barber's programme article about standing

[Hotchilidog]

Frankly when I was reading it I thought what a tosser. Every reason he gave to justify it was nonsense given that 75% of the grounds I have been to this season accept standing throughout the match in large areas of their ground.

He is using a rule that has no teeth to target people that he doesn't regard as "customers" but "trouble makers". And in doing so he will gradually kill the atmosphere in the stadium.

It's akin to banning all pc's because of illegal music download. Complete nonsense.

The fact 'it is allowed elsewhere' is irrelevant to the Albion and their compliance with license that allows them to operate the stadium. It matters not whether you think it is fair or not, ultimately the club have to comply with the license and the legislation and if they are in breach they may well have to answer to the authorities for this. When will people understand that this is all to do with compliance. if the Albion get penalised for breaking the terms of their licence it will not be the stewards or Barber to blame.

Those are the rules like it or not, and the stewards are obliged to enforce them. Just sit down when asked, and then stand again when it is ok to do so, is it really that difficult?

 

[LamieRobertson]

Either use a reasoned debate in reply or say nothing, we are handing out infractions for this schoolboy style of reply!

Here here...said the person who has benefited from your advice

 

[tezz79]

well thats that then.........weve been told

 

[RyFish]

Why DO people prefer to stand? Genuine question; the seats are comfy, there's plenty of legroom, it doesn't piss off the elderly or inform people behind you who can't stand up every time we cross the halfway line. Never understood it.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Did they ask the North to sit down against Palace? I didn't see it once.
So it's all a load of bollocks. Wish barber would just leave it as; The north stands. That's it end of, if you wanna sit, sit in the other 85% of the stadium.

When people are made to sit, they do go quiet. It's just the way it is. So by enforcing a rule (it's not a law), the Atmos suffers. Most clubs dont enforce it, There's no getting away from that.

 

[RyFish]

When people are made to sit, they do go quiet. It's just the way it is.

Is that because most of them talk out of their arse?

 

[pasty]

Is that because most of talk out of their arse?

Very good

 

[Captain Sensible]

Is that because most of talk out of their arse?

I wonder what would happen if the noise coming from the north stopped?
If for a few games the North did a sort of singing strike. All just sat down and didn't sing, I wonder if that would change people's minds about letting them stand. Then I bet barber wouldn't enforce the sitting anymore.

 

[RyFish]

I wonder what would happen if the noise coming from the north stopped?
If for a few games the North did a sort of singing strike. All just sat down and didn't sing, I wonder if that would change people's minds about letting them stand. Then I bet barber wouldn't enforce the sitting anymore.

But why not sing AND sit down at the same time? Multitask.

 

[Hotchilidog]

I wonder what would happen if the noise coming from the north stopped?
If for a few games the North did a sort of singing strike. All just sat down and didn't sing, I wonder if that would change people's minds about letting them stand. Then I bet barber wouldn't enforce the sitting anymore.

Wouldn't stop us singing in the WSU, honestly you really are full of yourself aren't you? I've been in the south stand before the acoustics make it sound like you are on strike down there anyway.

I think the atmosphere generated in the North Stand is great but surely that should not be dependent on whether you are on two legs or not. Whilst I agree that rules are bollocks, I am getting pretty sick and tired of the self righteous whining from some elements of the north stand community who fail to understand the obligations that the club have to fulfil. Behaving in a selfish manner and abusing staff is no way to go about getting the rules changed. No wonder Barber has the hump when he has to put up with this crap all the time.

 

[Captain Sensible]

But why not sing AND sit down at the same time? Multitask.

It just doesn't work like that does it. I don't know why? Look at every single stadium in Europe, the noise comes from the area that stands.

 

[The Grockle]

I think like many fans I prefer to stand at a game rather than sit but until safe standing is introduced at stadiums it can be very selfish to persistently stand. Sunday was a prime example for me, I had to move to the west corner for health reasons and many people were standing for long periods, it was fine from my point of view but the old boy next to me, probably in his late seventies and with a walking stick missed large chunks of the game for me this is massively unfair.

This for me is why us fans need to lobby the FA and the club to open dialogue on the issue, as unfair it is to make fans sit when it is perfectly safe to we need to respect those less able and those who have a preference to sit.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Wouldn't stop us singing in the WSU, honestly you really are full of yourself aren't you? I've been in the south stand before the acoustics make it sound like you are on strike down there anyway.

I think the atmosphere generated in the North Stand is great but surely that should not be dependent on whether you are on two legs or not. Whilst I agree that rules are bollocks, I am getting pretty sick and tired of the self righteous whining from some elements of the north stand community who fail to understand the obligations that the club have to fulfil. Behaving in a selfish manner and abusing staff is no way to go about getting the rules changed. No wonder Barber has the hump when he has to put up with this crap all the time.

WSU was good on Sunday but generally it got louder when alot of you lot are standing.
Also all this licence stuff is nonsense. Do Leeds, Old Trafford, lose their licence? Do they enforce sitting, no.
So why is Barber banging on about this when he doesn't have to?
Similarly, why does it bother others that don't go in the north? It's not your problem.

 

[screamadelica]

I wonder what would happen if the noise coming from the north stopped?
If for a few games the North did a sort of singing strike. All just sat down and didn't sing, I wonder if that would change people's minds about letting them stand. Then I bet barber wouldn't enforce the sitting anymore.

Will not need to be a strike as will happen naturaly.next season the ground will be known as the AECL

 

[Medwayseagull]

I think like many fans I prefer to stand at a game rather than sit but until safe standing is introduced at stadiums it can be very selfish to persistently stand. Sunday was a prime example for me, I had to move to the west corner for health reasons and many people were standing for long periods, it was fine from my point of view but the old boy next to me, probably in his late seventies and with a walking stick missed large chunks of the game for me this is massively unfair.

This for me is why us fans need to lobby the FA and the club to open dialogue on the issue, as unfair it is to make fans sit when it is perfectly safe to we need to respect those less able and those who have a preference to sit.

Fully agree with this - it is not the rules in themselves but the disrespect shown to fellow fans who are not able to jump up and down every five minutes and miss the most exciting parts of the game. I am not talking about the North Stand but other parts of the ground where this happens on a regular basis.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I think like many fans I prefer to stand at a game rather than sit but until safe standing is introduced at stadiums it can be very selfish to persistently stand. Sunday was a prime example for me, I had to move to the west corner for health reasons and many people were standing for long periods, it was fine from my point of view but the old boy next to me, probably in his late seventies and with a walking stick missed large chunks of the game for me this is massively unfair.

This for me is why us fans need to lobby the FA and the club to open dialogue on the issue, as unfair it is to make fans sit when it is perfectly safe to we need to respect those less able and those who have a preference to sit.

This is why if there was an area in the North where standing was tolerated and in the rest of the stadium it was enforced, it would end situations like the one you describe.

Safe standing area would end this argument for good.

 

[Triggaaar]

I was thinking about the standing issue this morning. I can't stand in the north, but I want the north to have a large standing section. It's important to the atmosphere.

This is what they should do:
Write to all NS STHs, saying that the back rows will be standing. They will make enough rows standing for all those that want to stand. As you are in the north stand, if you want to stand we will give you a seat in the back rows, if you don't we'll give you a seat in in the front rows. Do you want to stand all match, yes or no?

Count all the yes votes, divide by the number of seats in a row, and there's the number of rows that will be standing. Done.


Frankly, I can't see why we should have to accept anything less. Anyone then in the front rows should not be allowed to stand - they chose to buy a ticket in the none standing rows.

 

[The Gem]

I Haven't read the report, but was wondering why the stewards in the away end do not ask the fans to sit down during the game. You will notice that 95% of away fans stand for the entire game.

I think I know the reason they would be told to F"ck off most of the time.

If Barber hasn't mentioned the away fans sitting down, it would seem one rule for one etc.

My opinion let them stand, it does no harm and adds to the atmos.

 

[Captain Sensible]

I was thinking about the standing issue this morning. I can't stand in the north, but I want the north to have a large standing section. It's important to the atmosphere.

This is what they should do:
Write to all NS STHs, saying that the back rows will be standing. They will make enough rows standing for all those that want to stand. As you are in the north stand, if you want to stand we will give you a seat in the back rows, if you don't we'll give you a seat in in the front rows. Do you want to stand all match, yes or no?

Count all the yes votes, divide by the number of seats in a row, and there's the number of rows that will be standing. Done.


Frankly, I can't see why we should have to accept anything less. Anyone then in the front rows should not be allowed to stand - they chose to buy a ticket in the none standing rows.

Now that is a brilliant idea, unfortunately it's far too sensible and uncomplicated. So barber would never do it.

 

[Mr-N]

Peterborough's option of " Terraced or Seated " is a good idea.

Of they can do it safely and hassle free, I'm sure the Amex could.