Report Calls For Terracing Return

[Tooj 17]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6704389.stm

 

A new report calling for safe standing areas at football grounds in England and Wales has been launched by the Football Supporters' Federation.

 

Standing areas were outlawed after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 when 96 Liverpool fans died in a crush.

 

FSF head of development Steven Powell said the report had a "well-argued case" for a return to standing.

 

But the Hillsborough Families Support Group described the call as a "step backwards" for supporters.

 

A poll of 2,100 fans by the Football Fans Census in March found that 92% of those supporters surveyed wanted clubs to bring back standing areas.

 

The idea also has the backing of former Sports Minister Kate Hoey, who has said a rational reappraisal of this issue is overdue.

 

The official inquiry into the Hillsborough tragedy, conducted by Lord Taylor, blamed poor policing and inadequate facilities but the main recommendation was for the introduction of all-seater stadia and the removal of perimeter fencing.

 

Standing areas are in operation in certain parts of Europe, including Germany's Bundesliga.

 

Mr Powell added: "I think it's a very well-argued case for safe standing.

 

"I only hope that the Government and the football authorities sit up and take notice."

 

But Phil Hammond, who lost his 14-year-old son in the Hillsborough disaster described the association's stance as "unbelievable".

 

"I am disgusted that they are a football supporters' association," said Mr Hammond.

 

"They're supposed to be taking the game forward for supporters. Now it looks like they're taking a step back by wanting to go back to standing.

 

"What they have to respect as well is that when you put standing in stadiums Uefa's rules and regulations say that fencing has got to go up. So do they want us behind fences again?"

 

But according to the chairman of the FSF, Malcolm Clarke, a return to standing would not mean a return to risking the lives of supporters.

 

"Hillsborough was caused by pens into which there was no control over the numbers that went into them, fences at the front and poor management," he said.

 

"There is no reason why those problems shouldn't be addressed just as they have done in Germany to ensure an appropriate level of safety for the risk that there is."

[Tom 14021]

:

[@yourservice 67]

How about removable seating?then when Liverpule come everyone can put them back in

[JawD 99]

Id be up for safe standing like. Cant be that hard to devise a system that works.

[Jimbo 175]

no doubt the scousers are all for it.

[luckyluke 2]

How about removable seating?then when Liverpule come everyone can put them back in

[gram 0]

I have no desire to go back to standing. It was good when I was younger but I am just as happy with the ability to stand up or sit down now.

Edited May 30, 2007 by gram

[Guest alex]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

[Isegrim 10017]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

It's not as complicated as people often make out. It has never been a problem for any Jorman stadium to build convertible areas for terracing without any huge changes to the stadiums.

[Guest alex]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

It's not as complicated as people often make out. It has never been a problem for any Jorman stadium to build convertible areas for terracing without any huge changes to the stadiums.

I take it back then. Just an argument I'd heard against this before. They should bring some standing areas back.

[ewerk 31600]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

 

Aye but the fact that clubs will be able to get more paying fans into the same space may make it worth the cost.

[Craig 6702]

If they can make it safe, they should bring it back. Gallowgate End, Newcastle; Stretford End, Manchester; North Bank, Highbury; Spoin Kop, Liverpool - all terraces that had awesome atmospheres that the seating areas which replaced them, couldn't even begin to compete with.

[manc-mag 1]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

It's not as complicated as people often make out. It has never been a problem for any Jorman stadium to build convertible areas for terracing without any huge changes to the stadiums.

I take it back then. Just an argument I'd heard against this before. They should bring some standing areas back.

 

Structurally I'd have thought it would have been expensive actually. If you see how the stadium has been put up (remember the pics of the Leazes and Gallowgate going up) the gradient slope of the stand seems to have been an integral part of the structure of the stand itself. Cf the old days where terracing was just built onto earthwork banking and hence the gradient could be changed with the requisite amount of concrete.

 

Obviously not impossible but definitely not cheap.

 

The atmosphere has died on it's arse and that is the main argument for a standing section. Should really be a matter of choice for each individual club tbh and therefore should probably not be extended to include any away enclosures.

[Meenzer 15871]

All depends whether people would be happy to pay the same price for standing as for sitting, I suppose, since I can't imagine any club (particularly ours) cutting prices just because they're cramming more bodies in...

[Isegrim 10017]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

 

Aye but the fact that clubs will be able to get more paying fans into the same space may make it worth the cost.

Well, I think that's a bit of a problem. In Germany there aren't any additional tickets available, but there are still as many tickets sold as (unused) seats are available. So as Meenzer correctly says, it will be a bit of a problem if clubs accept lower prices for people who want to stand or fans are paying the same price regardless of sitting or standing. I doubt many clubs will want to take a cut in matchday revenues, but especially for clubs with poor attendances it could be a idea to attract more fans.

[Guest alex]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

It's not as complicated as people often make out. It has never been a problem for any Jorman stadium to build convertible areas for terracing without any huge changes to the stadiums.

I take it back then. Just an argument I'd heard against this before. They should bring some standing areas back.

 

Structurally I'd have thought it would have been expensive actually. If you see how the stadium has been put up (remember the pics of the Leazes and Gallowgate going up) the gradient slope of the stand seems to have been an integral part of the structure of the stand itself. Cf the old days where terracing was just built onto earthwork banking and hence the gradient could be changed with the requisite amount of concrete.

 

Obviously not impossible but definitely not cheap.

 

The atmosphere has died on it's arse and that is the main argument for a standing section. Should really be a matter of choice for each individual club tbh and therefore should probably not be extended to include any away enclosures.

On second thoughts, I don't take it back.

[Rob W 0]

I think it's a non-starter. There's more to it than taking out the seats (put in at great expense, remember?). I think I'm right in thinking seated areas are steeper generally than standing ones were, meaning major structural changes would be required. I don't have a problem with it in principle though. I think I've stood for the whole match at just about every away game I've been to anyway.

 

 

correct

 

And we go though this every year and it never gets any closer

 

HSE rules alone no Board od Directors will take the risk nor will the polis or the councils.................

 

The Clubs, the TV and the sponsors want nice people of all ages, creeds, sexual orientation with lots of money enjoying themselves - not a bunch of working class twerps dancing up and down like - indiginous peoples