Posted on 23rd September 2010
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
The FSF is leading the Keep Scunthorpe Standing campaign at Scunthorpe United, which aims to retain the standing area at the club’s Glanford Park stadium. The campaign is being launched at this weekend’s home fixture with Ipswich Town, and will continue at Tuesday’s game with Barnsley.
Under the existing rules, a club is allowed to retain standing areas in its ground for three seasons after being promoted to the Championship. 2010/11 is Scunthorpe’s third season, and so before the beginning of next season the club must convert the stadium’s North Stand to a seating area.
Glanford Park is already the Championship’s smallest ground, with a total capacity of only 9,088. The redevelopment being enforced on the club would reduce this still further, losing more than 1,000 off the total capacity.
Keep Scunthorpe Standing aims to contest the rule. We’re pointing out that not only are Scunthorpe being punished for their success in gaining promotion to and remaining in the Championship for three years, this mandatory redevelopment of the ground will seriously disadvantage fans. At many games last year the attendance reached above 8,000, meaning fans would be locked out of future games.
Supporters are being punished for the success of the team, while the club face being forced to waste money on a redevelopment that nobody wants, to a stadium in which they will be able to sell fewer tickets, rather than investing in the squad or other ways of improving the supporter experience.
There is precedent in allowing a standing area to remain – Cardiff were allowed to keep standing areas at Ninian Park for several seasons past the three year period as it would have drastically cut capacity. We’re hoping to convince the authorities at the very least that the same exemption should be given to Scunthorpe.
Glanford Park’s standing area is modern and safe, and complies with all of the latest government safety standards. League Two club Morecambe have just moved into a new stadium, which has standing areas very similar to those at Glanford Park. If this is acceptable for Morecambe in a new stadium, why is it not acceptable for Scunthorpe in theirs?
We’re looking for your backing – visit our Keep Scunthorpe Standing section, or join the group on Facebook to find out how you can help and lend your support.
Join the FSF for free today from this link.
The Football Supporters’ Federation on Facebook.
Scunthorpe United has announced the appointment of a fan-elected director following a vote involving the Iron’s supporter groups. Neil Wright, chair of the club’s London and South East Supporters Club, will represent supporters’ groups at board level.
Supporters have heard the phrase “Fan-led Review” many, many times now and you might be wondering why it’s still so important, now the immediate threat of the European Super League has receded?
The trials of running online meetings and officers overstepping their authority were laid bare when the chaotic Handforth Parish Council meeting went viral at the weekend. Here the FSA’s training and governance manager Nicola Cave offers advice, and online resources, to supporter groups on hosting online meetings and standing orders…
At the weekend Government ministers confirmed that further standing areas will be coming to the top two divisions before the end of the season – signalling an end to the all-seater era.
