Safe standing.?

Liverpools elected Mayor has said safe standing at Everton and at Liverpool should be looked at.
Sensitive issue given the ongoing Hillsborough enquiry which after the 1989 disaster prompted the introduction of all seater stadia.

Some of the Hillsborough Family Support Group oppose his proposals.
Liverpools supporter association " the Spirit of Shankly" are planning to meet families of the bereaved to
discuss the issue in more detail. A public forum with a chance to vote will then follow.

I know this suggestion is not new but if we develop our West Stand area in the future would Reds fans like to see safe standing being introduced at Oakwell and if you would what might the benefits be.?

 

I hate having to sit down at a football match these days. Nothing better than standing with your mates and enjoying a beer while watching the match.

They might want to look at employing competent stewards first though.

 

I wouldn't call June incompetent, not to her face anyway

 

Going on hols to Orlando next month. Looking to take the lad to the Orlando City vs Columbus Crew game. They've just moved to a new stadium which has a dedicated safe standing area. Would like tickets in the standing zone, but don't fancy being stood behind someone waving a bloody flag around all match. I guess you can always move about.

They also have allocated 'smoke' areas, although flares are banned.

Even cup holders at back of seats / stand rail, for your beer

 

MLS is by far the most embarrassing league out there, as are the fans. You should listen to some of the interviews when they tell you where they found the "influence" to introduce Ultras to MLS, genuinely hilarious. FIGHT AND WIN!

 

I know, I've seen some of the stuff on youtube. Chanting Bar-ba-que to tune of Vinadloo

Going for the experience. Should be a good laugh if nothing else.

 

Definitely mate, not trying to be negative or owt, I find it hilarious and if I was in America I'd probably go to a game too.

If you use Facebook, look up the page MLS Ultras, you'll have a good chuckle.

 

There seems little doubt that safe standing will eventually grow and be implemented at stadia up and down the country. I see this as a good thing, it can be safely implemented and enjoyed and would probably improve the atmosphere at games. I've always been an advocate of simply having a 'standing area' designated within seated stands, although health and safety regulations will probably prohibit such a policy, it unoficially happens at 75% of stadiums anyway.

Clearly there are sensitivities, although it's curious that Liverpool supporters stand for 90 mins at away matches and the Kop is usually stood for bigger games. Regarding Oakwell, a redeveloped West Stand could well provide an opportunity for safe standing areas, although the preferably location would presumably be behind the goal. It'll be interesting to see how Northampton and Shrewsbury get on, there are already discussions amongst Shrews fans about potential issues around the location and what impact it'll have on existing 'singing areas'. Watch this space I guess.

 

These standing areas can't be any less safe than Burton's away end, surely?

 

Reading this makes me realise I've never stood up to watch Barnsley unless it's a penalty or suchlike. I've not been to any away ground with standing to watch us play either. Climbing to the top of the East Stand is enough for my dad who I go to matches with so I might never.

 

From 1987 my lad and I used to stand behind the goal on the Ponty end because as a
young lad of 12 he needed to be able to see. In those days in didn't matter because our crowds
were so sparse that you had to shout to any people near you for them to hear you.

Well remember our Cup game at home to Everton. I believe it was 1989 and we were so tightly packed
together we were forced to stand three quarters up the terrace behind Clive Bakers net. It's the only time I've felt remotely concerned for my sons safety at a Reds game. I could also sense he was not entirely comfortable with it as well.


I don't fully understand how the concept works. I have to say that the first half of the JPT Final against Oxford was spoiled
for me by our fans leaping up to see what was happening every time we attacked their goal.
It was better in the second half because being near the corner we were level with the penalty area so our view was
in no way restricted. Having said that it must have been as frustrating for our fans near to the Oxford end in the second half as it had been for us in the first.


If by introducing safe standing it means it might be more affordable for some of our unwaged fans who might have lapsed
due to the cost of a seat that can only be good so I think I would be up for giving it a try.

 

Out of interest when was the last season you could legally stand at Oakwell? I can only remember seating all round. Someone told me it was the early 90s before they built the East Stand.

 

Taylor Report was issued in 1990. There was some talk that we as a Club had put forward
a case not to put our seats in straight away due to cost and asked if we could do it on a phased basis.

East Stand went up in 1993 and the Ponte Road end was rebuilt in 1995.
So I guess we brought in all seating around 1994 time although I stand to be corrected on that.

I remember that game when because of the high wind the whole of the East Stand shook violently.
Think it was against Sunderland but not sure on that one either. When fans took it up with the Club later we were
told it had been designed to do just that.

Remember when I got back home before having some snap I had to pop upstairs to change my underpants.!!

 

I might be wrong but I've always felt the main problem at hillsborough was more to do with poor policing/stewarding packing more fans into an already over crowded area then opening the gate just before kick off letting more in.

Weren't they also penned in with fences? Surely that all contributed more to the disaster than the standing itself?

I'd be all for safe standing as long as the police and stewards are correctly trained to deal with the crowds and make sure people were sent into the right section.

 

I support the idea 100%. The all-seater law was a knee-jerk reaction to a few admittedly nasty events. It's never a good idea to legislate in such circumstances and it this case it was basically Thatcher having another go at what she saw as the working class.

They have it in Germany and they get just as many fans as here so why not?

 

Yep, exactly this.

 

Yes I'd like to see it return.
Standing at football matches wasn't the cause of Hillsborough and other incidents .
It was the incompetence,greed,arrogance and poor planning that caused all this.
I think if safe standing returns with strict and competent stewarding it would be welcomed at most grounds.
Also anyone standing in seated areas should then be hung,drawn and quartered.

 

An interesting point. Given what's happened lately, are there grounds to reverse the findings of the Taylor report?

 

There are enough nobheads in our support who already think they can do whatever they like, I worry about what happens when these nobheads decide they are going to stand wherever they like. Still, the nobheads are going to go no matter what, might as introduce safe standing and deal with the problems.

 

Would imagine so imo.
It would have to be done differently to how it used to be by penning people in and more cordoning off so large numbers aren't clumped together but it can definitely be done if there's a will , possibly a strict membership scheme for traceability etc.