Posted on 21st May 2013
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Portsmouth are the 24th club to officially back the Football Supporters’ Federation‘s Safe Standing Campaign. Chief Executive Mark Catlin said he was “delighted” to join the growing list of clubs calling for a safe standing trial.
“The Safe Standing Roadshow visited Fratton Park during 2011 and the concept was favourably received by all Portsmouth supporters who attended it,” said Catlin.
“Portsmouth Football Club is, subject to any future changes in the current legislation and football regulations, delighted to add its name to the Football Supporters’ Federation call for clubs to investigate the option of installing safe standing sections in their stadium.”
The overwhelming majority of fans back the choice to sit or stand and Pompey’s decision is proof positive of this – it’s less than two months since the Pompey Supporters’ Trust took control of the club.
Half of the Football League’s clubs now either back the FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign or have standing areas themselves. The Scottish Premier League also supports the campaign.
What does safe standing look like? See below…
Why does the FSF back safe standing?
The FSF represents more than 220,000 individual and affiliate members throughout England and Wales and tries to fairly reflect fans’ opinion on all sorts of issues. Safe standing is one of the most commonly raised subjects.
Survey after survey (see# 2) shows that fans overwhelming back the choice to sit or stand and safe standing can be introduced within stringent safety standards laid down in the Government’s Green Guide. But that alone will not be enough, clubs must make their voice heard too and it’s another boost for the campaign that Portsmouth have seen fit to do that.
Safe standing areas can also help make stadiums more socially inclusive places. In England and abroad prices in standing areas are typically lower than seats. Safe standing can simultaneously raise revenue for clubs and lower prices for fans.
As Professor Steve Frosdick, safety expert and founder member of the Football Safety Officers’ Association, says: “I think they’ve [the FSF] got an irrefutable case to allow clubs and fans the choice of having rail seating.”
Thanks to the SafeStandingRoadshow for the picture used in this article.
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) was contacted last night by the Sports Ground Safety Association (SGSA), who told us that the option for football clubs to offer licensed standing at all levels of the game in England and Wales has at last been passed into official Government policy.
Pompey Supporters’ Trust unveiled a statue of club legend Jimmy Dickinson outside Fratton Park at the weekend following a fundraiser from fans.
Brentford, QPR and Wolves are the latest clubs to confirm they will have safe standing areas – and more clubs are expected to follow next season as the Government has confirmed that Premier League and Championship clubs can introduce standing during 2022/23.
This week UEFA confirmed that it has approved the use of safe standing in European competitions for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
