Oldham Athletic back safe standing trials

January 2013. Oldham Athletic have joined the constantly growing list of football clubs supporting the Football Supporters' Federation's call for trials of safe standing areas fitted with rail seats.

Jenny Warburton, Commercial Manager at Oldham Athletic, said:

“While under current regulations we are not able to offer the choice we note with interest the growing support from fellow clubs for the FSF in its call on the Government to permit a limited number of trials of safe standing areas fitted with ‘rail seats’.

“We believe that the rail seat concept has merit and could provide football clubs that currently have all-seater stadia with a safe and well-managed means of enabling fans to watch football standing up. We would therefore encourage the relevant authorities to permit trials of the rail seat system with a view thereafter to defining appropriate criteria under which it could be introduced in future at grounds such as ours.”

Fans of Oldham Athletic welcomed their club’s support for safe standing trials. Dave Moore of Oldham Athletic Mad said:

“I'm delighted that the club are publicly supporting the call for safe standing trials. We have plans for building a new stand so if the trials go well I hope that it can incorporate standing accommodation.”

Thanks to Jenny and all at Oldham for their support. If you would like your club to add their name to the list of clubs calling for safe standing trials, please put them in touch with us via safe.standing at gmx.com.