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The Lancashire Telegraph
News, sport and entertainment from all over East Lancashire
Clarets to back standing plans (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Clarets to back standing plans
10:45am Wednesday 12th December 2012 in News
By Suzanne Geldard, Burnley FC reporter
BURNLEY have given their backing to a scheme to re-introduce standing at football grounds, despite not yet being in a position to provide terraced areas themselves.
The Clarets are one of just 13 Football League clubs who have come out in support of a pilot scheme which aims to prove that standing, which was outlawed after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, is now a safe way to watch the sport.
The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) is hoping that MPs will next week vote in favour for its plans for a small-scale trial at Premier League clubs, despite their opposition to the idea.
In a statement, the Premier League said they will “not be encouraging the Government to change the law”, adding: “Since the introduction of all-seater stadia the supporter experience has improved significantly and we have seen more diverse crowds attending Premier League matches, including more women and children.
“The police, safety officers and licensing authorities remain clear and have consistently informed us that crowd management has improved as a result of all-seater stadiums being in place in the top two divisions in this country.”
But Burnley chief executive Lee Hoos, pictured left, believesa return to standing would be good for football, and clubs should be more open minded to the idea.
“It’s not something clubs can currently do unless they are in League One or below, but would we support a change in legislation, absolutely!” he said, even though Turf Moor could not currently safely cater for a designated standing area.
“It’s difficult for us to implement it now in the lower blocks around the stadium because of the corporate boxes, and the rake around the upper tiers are too steep.
“We would have to spend a bit of time and money to make the necessary changes.
“But we are in favour of the idea.
“For one thing the fans, who are the customers, are the people who are clamouring for this, so you have to look at giving them what they want.
“We try to enforce the ground regulations when it’s safe to do so, and we would discourage people from standing, but if you looked around the ground at the Blackburn Rovers game, there wouldn’t have been many people sitting down.
“The majority of the ground was standing throughout.”
All-seater stadiums have been compulsory in the Premier League since 1994, following Lord Justice Taylor's report in response to the Hillsborough disaster, but Hoos added: “The Government should be looking at this seriously in terms of ‘can it be done safely?’.
“I’m not trying to open up old wounds but in other sports people stand all the time in seated areas.
“You go to concerts, where people often have quite a lot more to drink, and they are standing in seated areas.
“There are less restrictive means of crowd control, and with the stewarding and policing and CCTV inside grounds we have come a hell of a long way.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (19)
11:34am Wed 12 Dec 12
TodClaret says...
Concerts aren't a good example to back up the argument as people want to dance. It's a concert!
Football stadia have improved significantly over the last twenty years or so and it is a lot more pleasant environment to watch a game now. Returning to standing on a cold wind-swept terrace at some football outpost on a cold Tuesday night in February is not my idea of fun.
Football has come a long way since Hillsboro, lets not take a backwards step
11:37am Wed 12 Dec 12
Return of the Magnificent se7en says...
Chim Chiminee
1:09pm Wed 12 Dec 12
fanny_tickler. says...
1:25pm Wed 12 Dec 12
TodClaret says...
The article encourages a discussion on terracing yet they still can't resist sticking their oars in
2:09pm Wed 12 Dec 12
FCBurnley says...
4:25pm Wed 12 Dec 12
swearengen says...
6:07pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Harwoodstblue says...
6:10pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Harwoodstblue says...
6:28pm Wed 12 Dec 12
sean_brfc says...
8:28pm Wed 12 Dec 12
George White Bread says...
.....there there Dobbin, you munch on these sugar cubes while I put the step ladders up behind you.
10:13pm Wed 12 Dec 12
Chico! says...
Think about it...all those dingles in their Farmfoods baked bean stained bought on the market tracksuits rubbing up next to each other would create enough static to be seen from space.
Like a chlamydia ridden, toothless, unemployed tesla coil.
Terrifying.
12:17am Thu 13 Dec 12
George White Bread says...
You're just dying to come out as a Burnley fan aren't you?
C'mon, I'll buy you a half season ticket for Christmas !!!
8:18am Thu 13 Dec 12
Chico! says...
I'm pretty sure food stains are the least of your concerns. Most of the blemishes on your Adidas 4stripe market specials are of a more (ahem) 'organic' origin.
9:39am Thu 13 Dec 12
Return of the Magnificent se7en says...
10:33am Thu 13 Dec 12
Harwoodstblue says...
11:36am Thu 13 Dec 12
George White Bread says...
11:41am Thu 13 Dec 12
TodClaret says...
11:48am Thu 13 Dec 12
George White Bread says...
All this built up frustration in your posts is there because you're in turmoil with yourself. Time to let go now Chico, just accept your claret and blue destiny.
Welcome aboard son, next stop the premiership !!!
11:56am Thu 13 Dec 12
Chico! says...
As long as you get yourself together before going to sign on you'll be fine.
Don't forget to fill in your diary.