Football League clubs say 'Yes' to standing

This announcement came as the clubs were told how they had replied to the four questions put to them in the consultation paper on standing, which had been circulated in late 2013. 78% of clubs responding to the key question on approaching the government to seek a review of the law had said ‘Yes’.

The clubs also gave the League executive a mandate to “approach the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to request that rail seating products be licensed in Football League grounds.”

The clubs also replied ‘Yes’ to two further questions, namely: ‘Should clubs be permitted to accommodate supporters in rail seating in the Championship?’ and ‘Should clubs be permitted to revert from seating to standing accommodation in League One and League Two following relegation from the Championship?’

This whole process at the Football League had been initiated by Bob Symns, Chief Executive of Peterborough United, who came with us to Hannover to see their rail seats in the summer of 2012 and put a motion in support of safe standing to a meeting of Championship clubs in February 2013 and to the full League AGM in May 2013.