The fact that Graham Kelly of all people is willing to use his column in The Indie to talk about a new safe standing system will give encouragement to the likes of IMUSA and the Safe Standing Campaign.
'The Football Supporters Federation is giving the first public viewing to a new, safe standing design at its second annual fans' parliament being held over the first weekend of June in Walsall. Invited to attend are safety officers from the 91 League stadiums and police match day commanders from all 92 clubs. The FSF hopes the new design will solve the problem surrounding fans continually standing in seated areas.
The revolutionary concept, designed by a Devon company, has a row of seating attached to a barrier, but the seat is at chest height, rather than the usual low level. The barrier prevents the supporter from falling backwards or forwards and he or she steps into the seat as if it were a bar stool in a pub, so they don't have to keep standing up every few minutes to allow people to pass on their way out to the toilet or refreshment areas. When the fan stands up in excitement, he is likely to be of approximately similar height to the person alongside him, who may still be seated.
The Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, and the Football Licensing Authority have been asked to view the prototype and the FLA has requested technical specifications.
However, the FSF is concerned that the Government may have lost the plot on the issue of standing. The Premier League has never shown any great interest, as far as I am aware, in contemplating the return of standing areas. I would be surprised if the conservatism the clubs demonstrated when the all-seater principle was first mooted after Hillsborough was not mirrored now if the possibility of restoring some safe standing areas is proposed. What would be the effect on ticket prices?
Such areas should be easier to monitor for crowd safety. The current problem of fans who are standing blocking the views of those sitting behind would also be removed at a stroke. Stewards would no longer have the thankless task of repeatedly asking them to sit down.'