Safe Standing

I love the nostalgia of standing, had some great times in the paddocks when it was standing only. Pretty sure it will help with atmosphere but to be honest I would just like more legroom at my age!

Signed the petition!

I still vividly remember standing in the Kop when Liverpool played QPR in the early 80s. We were jammed in and subject to frequent surges forward as Liverpool raced goal-wards. At one stage I was literally off my feet, suspended by the crush, and then pushed back to the crush barrier behind where we were standing. Scary stuff and I am sure the new arrangements will be smaller and offer better protection. I am not sure if I will want to make use of the standing area(s) but I do welcome them back as I feel they will increase the match atmosphere.

I have just watched the (well-attended) parliamentary debate on safe-standing. Important points made were:

• Safe standing already exists - not only in the lower leagues, but also in larger grounds such as Celtic and the Bundesliga in Germany. There are no reported issues.
• League One sides promoted to the Championship have to remove the safe standing that has worked well that season.
• Clubs planning new stadiums face the unenviable choice of allocating possible purpose-built safe-standing areas or accepting the retrospective installation of safe-standing in less ideal circumstances later.
• Currently, all seating stadiums are unsafe when it comes to supporters standing up. The lower level of seating in front of a supporter will not protect them when they are toppled forward. This is why club stewards try very hard to get supporters to remain seated, but it is common for certain areas of home supporters to stand throughout the game, and very common for away supporters. It was clearly stated that the current situation is dangerous and enforcement often fails.
• Whilst all of the above points (that were repeated often by MPs) were made in favour of safe-standing, the two MPs working with the Hillsborough campaign groups stated their opposition to safe-standing and requested that no decision be made until the Hillsborough Enquiry had completed its deliberations so they could make their feelings heard (as matters are sub judice).