Your Are My Leicester

Haye vs Fury is off!

Hi guys and girls, A couple of months ago I wrote this letter to Top and the board, Dear Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha, I've done some research on safe standing in football, I would like to show you some evidence. I asked football fans around the country on their views on safe standing in football. These are just some replies I received: " Safe standing should be brought back because it gives fans the opportunity to experience the match how they want in an environment that is 100% safe." " Would improve atmosphere and gives fans option of whether to sit or stand." "Safe standing should be introduced as it has been proven to be safe, tickets are cheaper, fans love the areas, atmosphere is greatly increased and it would end the unnecessarily hostile confrontations between fans who want to sit and fans who want to stand, as well as end battles between stewards and standing fans." " Better atmospheres will be generated with much less chance of confrontations with stewards. It provides ALL fans with a choice so will encourage fans either for or against standing at football to return again. Would also provide bigger attendances." "I'd be against safe standing because I'd feel unsafe if there were people crammed in, so therefore I'm against safe standing." " Safe standing shouldn't be reintroduced due to the potential of overcrowding of fans in the stand." Of the fans who gave me there opinions I found out that 78% were for standing and 22% were against standing. What is rail seating? Rail seats - The design Each rail seat incorporates a high back with a sturdy top rail that comes up to approximately the waist height of the spectator standing behind it. The top rail behind each seat links firmly into the next one right along the row, thus creating a continuous, robust barrier along its full length. Despite being called seats, their primary function is that of a waist-high rail for the spectators standing behind them and for all domestic games the seats would remain folded up (if desired / permitted by the newly drafted regulations, the seats can be locked in this position). When folded up the seats lie flush between the uprights of the frame, thus making the whole railing just a few centimetres deep and freeing up the maximum amount of space between each row of rails for standing fans and ease of access and egress for stewards and paramedics. Rail heights in Germany vary between 90 and 115cm. Rail heights compliant with Green Guide The minimum height required here by the Green Guide for barriers in traditional standing areas at rugby and lower league football grounds is 102cm. There may be an argument to revise this downwards for rails in safe standing areas, as with a maximum of 2 rows of spectators between each rail, they will never be called upon to withstand the same forces as rails on ‘old-fashioned’ terracing. Even without any such lowering of the required height, however, it can be seen from the heights in use in Germany (up to 115cm) that hi-rail seats can comfortably comply with the current minimum 102cm height requirement (110cm for new builds). Clear space for added safety The images on the right show a rail seat folded up (potentially locked in that position), flush between the uprights and, below, the clear space between each upright in single step configuration (i.e. one row of standing fans between each line of rail seats). The freedom of movement along such rows is significantly better for stewards and/or paramedics than along rows of 'normal' seats, which project substantially into the free space and also fall forward uncontrollably to cause an obstruction and trip hazard. Stand gradients The Green Guide also requires that the gradient of standing areas in stadia where these are allowed does not exceed 25 degrees. A number of German stadia using hi-rail seats currently do so in areas of the ground with gradients of 15.3, 21.3 and 24 degrees (as pictured on the right in the 'away' fans section of the Rhein Neckar Arena, home of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany). Installation of hi-rail seats in compliance with Green Guide gradient limits is thus clearly possible. A couple of weeks later I received a phone call off Jim basically he said the board had asked him personally to reply to my letter. He said that the board and Susan Whelan had read my letter he said that they thought it was well structured and if it was ok with me if Susan Whelan could use my letter as a reference to approve of safe standing at safe standing forums she attends, I gave them permission obviously. Do you reckon this is was one them safe standing meetings?

Reply from my MP regarding safe standing! Dear Mr Sharp, Thank you for your recent email about re-introducing standing into football stadia. First of all, I am really sorry it’s taken me so long to reply. I receive a large number of letters and emails from my constituents and it takes me a while to go through them all personally. I completely understand that you have strong feelings about this issue, and I agree that a sensible discussion on the subject is required. This needs to take into account the views and evidence from supporters, football clubs, the police and governing bodies. Many people say that allowing standing areas would make watching football matches more enjoyable and that it is possible to do this safely. However, others question whether standing areas really can be safe and argue that systems in used other countries have not been properly assessed within the context of the English game. There are also concerns that having standing areas would reduce the amount of space for supporters with children or elderly relatives. I would want to ensure that any changes made do not discourage women, families, and older supporters from enjoying football matches too. We need a full and frank debate about this issue, and I am very grateful to you for letting me know your views! As a member of the Shadow Cabinet I’m afraid I cannot sign EDMs, but I will certainly raise this issue on your behalf directly with the Minister responsible, and I will let you know when I have his reply. In the meantime, if you have any further questions about this or any other issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Thank you for taking the time to contact me. Yours sincerely, Liz Kendall Member of Parliament for Leicester West