Safe standing at football

[Dinnertime Dave]

Not a debate we have had, but seems to be gaining momentum. If you want to know a little more about "safe standing" find it here -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26079503

Be interested if anybody can justify it.

[Golden]

Why shouldn't they be able to justify it if the fans want it? I've a season ticket at a premiership football club and haven't sat down for a number of years as if I did all I'd see would be the backs of fans in front of me. Many fans want it and the safety and stewarding is much better now than ever - I really don't see a problem with it and it should reduce the price for many. Those that want to stand will be able to have a choice.

The sad truth about the events at Hillsborough that preceded the all seater stadiums is that the ground wasn't fit for a semi final - I was in the Leppings Lane in 1981 when a similar occurrence happened right around me but the referee and police saw fit to let the fans out of the stand onto and around the pitch which may have prevented lives being lost on this occasion. The crash barrier just in front of me was twisted like a pipe cleaner before it snapped off and was eventually passed over the fences. I'm afraid the authorities knew the ground wasn't fit but they continued to hold big football matches there and the 'end' that you were given was based on geography and not the number of fans expected. The FA, Hillsborough and the local authority are soon going to be found out - the police got most of the blame for handling the incident but there was a chance to stop this tragedy well before the police were ever compromised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtzHVe2mEN0

[jokar]

The ticket will be the same price and I cant wait for wet leags again!

[Dinnertime Dave]

Small world Golden, I was also at the same semi final supporting the old gold.

I was 17 at the time and it was the most scared I have ever been at a football match, I was at the opposite end and we were packed in also. And that is the problem. Clubs are for the German model because surprisingly it isn't one seat per person Germans increase the capacity by 80%. Seat widths are about 320mm and whilst some terraces could be converted anything with a rake over 23 degrees can lead to progressive crowd collapses

http://www.gkstill.com/CV/Modelling/CrowdCollapse.html

[Golden]

Small world indeed! I remember the pain, anguish and tears of grown men around me that day ... it was obvious from 100 yards away that it was a dive and never a penalty!!    As for wet legs Jokar the only time I've experienced that was when the sweaties came down to Wembley in the 70s/80s - those skirts make it far too easy!! On another note its sad to see what's happened to the 'old gold' over the past few years.

Anyway back to the serious stuff. I think that the discussion around standing should be had and agree that some terraces wouldn't be suitable but the increased capacity makes it desirable for the clubs. There are no fences in the UK any more and the only UK crowd collapse that I'm aware of was the Ibrox disaster. Its amazing that I've been at the ground I visit regularly with over 61,000 attending and now with seating has a crowd capacity of around 37,000. The average age of a supporter must be increasing and its time the next generation of fans had a chance to buy a ticket.