Hull City fans stand up for Bundesliga-style 'rail seating' experiment
HULL City Official Supporters' Club has renewed calls for a trial of a standing terrace at the KC Stadium as the club push for promotion to the Premier League.
Last year, Tigers vice-chairman Ehab Allam announced he was in favour of a return to standing terraces, provided it is safe.
Since then, more clubs have backed a campaign run by the Football Supporters' Federation for trials.
However, legislation brought in after the Hillsborough disaster of 1989 requires all top-level clubs to provide seating for football crowds.
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The federation is calling on the Government to allow a small number of trials of so-called "rail seating", as used in German Bundesliga grounds.
Chris Smith, of Hull City Official Supporters' Club, said: "Last time we won promotion, the KC Stadium was not big enough to cope with demand.
"Safer standing terraces would be the ideal way of increasing capacity and making a trip to the football more affordable to the ordinary man."
Mr Smith, 63, of Atwick near Hornsea, believes part of the KC Stadium will eventually be standing, but he says he remains realistic.
"It's not going to happen overnight," he said. "But I would certainly expect it to happen in my lifetime."
In the 1970s and 1980s, terraces were synonymous with hooliganism – something the federation and supporters' clubs up and down the country are keen to distance rail-seating from.
Mr Smith said: "Half of the Football League's 72 clubs are now publicly in favour of safe standing terraces.
"But the proof of the pudding is, of course, in the eating. We need the trials."
George Hudson, Hull City's marketing and media manager, reiterated the club's support for a trial, but he said Mr Allam's hands were tied.
He said: "The club has already indicated its support for the Football Supporters' Federation's campaign for safe standing terraces.
"However, we await developments and direction from the Government."
Howden and Haltemprice MP David Davis is the latest MP is add his support to the ongoing campaign.
Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath MP Roger Godsiff has tabled Early Day Motion 573, which calls for the introduction of pilot safe standing areas in the Premier League and Championship.
The federation says it fully supports this motion and is asking fans to get their local MPs to sign the motion.
Before Christmas, a Mail online poll asked readers: 'Do you think Hull City should be allowed to trial a safe standing terrace at the KC Stadium?'
Seventy per cent of fans voted yes.
Visit www.fsf.org.uk for further information about the campaign and Early Day Motion 573.
12 Comments
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by willo
Friday, March 01 2013, 8:12PM
“one question whos goin to pay for it smc or city council more money wasted”
by stantheman
Friday, March 01 2013, 8:04PM
“Breaking news. Hull Fc back this scheme (if it proves popular) but don't want to contribute any money.
If Hull City, the SMC and/or the council subsidise what fc should be paying then they will reap all the benefits.
Business as usual.”
by HCAFCscarb
Friday, March 01 2013, 7:33PM
“Super rick...
You don't have to stand IF safe standing comes back...
You can sit in the family friendly south stand...or take
You flask and blanket and sit in the west stand..
It's called freedom of choice and many of us do not like sitting down
North stand would be ideal with the great acoustics in that stand.
I stood in Boothferry Park as did thousands of others and never had a mishap
Even when there was 46,000 v Stoke City.
Fingers crossed it happens soon...”
by London2Hull
Friday, March 01 2013, 5:11PM
“@localad this safe standing (or rail seating) means stadia can offer standing for league games and seats for UEFA games. This is what happens in Germany at the home of Borussia Dortmuund, the Westfalenstadion. For league games there is a (standing & seating capacity) of 80,000 and for UEFA games an all seating capacity of 65,000.
Safe standing is a way to bring back atmosphere to many of our souless stadia and offer a real choice to supporters who struggle with insane ticket prices.”
by Solly_Atwell
Friday, March 01 2013, 2:56PM
“"But the proof of the pudding is, of course, in the eating. We need the trials"
Surely this data is available from the German Bundesliga?”
by Squaggles
Friday, March 01 2013, 2:42PM
“People need to realise this is about CHOICE
If you want to sit that is fine as most of the ground will be seated , the advantage is that those who now stand in a seated area and obstruct the view of others can move to the standing area and everyone is happy . Win win situation with no downside .
It might also help with the atmosphere at the KC”
by localad
Friday, March 01 2013, 2:03PM
“Problem with this idea is that the Premier league officials have made it clear more than once they do no support the idea in the slightest. And for clubs that get to european competitions again UEFA do not allow standing in any of thier games. So there is a very long way to go before standing is allowed in this country.”
by Hull Plumbing and Heating Services
Friday, March 01 2013, 1:45PM
“Anything that can lower prices and add more atmosphere into stadiums while not compromising safety should always be a winner. Make the north stand (east side corner) at the Kc "rail standing" and give it to us Home supporters, then listen to the noise!”
by SuperRick
Friday, March 01 2013, 1:26PM
“Despite the stadium safety rules, the north stand IS a standing area as is the North-East corner? No enforcement apparent there! I go to Old Trafford now and again and you MUST sit down! The council can close the ground, even a club like MU!
In my opinion it is a backward step to reintroduce standing, we have to try to make it a family game and seating is safer and more family friendly. I would not support it!”
by jimmyst1
Friday, March 01 2013, 12:32PM
“all for standing if done safely and lower price's a bonus”