Safe standing a possibility at Bradford

Bradford City FC has become the first football club in Britain to invite concrete proposals from fans on the Safe Standing issue.

Following a lengthy “Stand Up For The Bantams” campaign mounted by City fans and funded and supported by the FSF, Bradford’s Director of Operations David Baldwin has acknowledged the possibility of a safe standing area at the club’s all-seater Valley Parade stadium.

During the course of an official club statement last week, Baldwin said: “Bradford City FC recognises that a number of City supporters wish the club to provide a dedicated ‘Safe Standing’ area in one part of the stadium at Valley Parade. This would provide an option for those supporters who prefer to watch games whilst standing up. The major part of the stadium would retain the existing ‘all-seater’ arrangements”, Baldwin said.

“The club will look sympathetically on any practical proposals that are put forward by supporters, which address adequately all the regulatory and resource issues involved.”

The Bantams’ statement has been welcomed by Bradford City Supporters Trust, which came in response to a petition organised by City fan and FSF member Manny Dominguez.

“It is now up to the supporters to persuade the authorities that the time is right for a trial run of Safe Standing at an all-seater League ground, to find the funding, and then to persuade the club to go ahead with the renovations”, a BCST spokesman said.

“One idea would be to turn either the Lower or the Upper Tier of the T.L.Dallas Stand (The ‘Bradford End’) into a Safe Standing area. BCST looks forward to working with Manny and with the national supporters’ organisations including The Football Supporters’ Federation and Supporters Direct (SD).

“Bradford City is once again in a position to lead the country in widening opportunities for supporters. BCST invites comments from Trust members and all City supporters about the most practical ways to progress this issue.”