Shrewsbury Town back safe standing trials

February 2013. Shrewsbury Town have become the 21st club to give their official support to the Safe Standing Campaign. The club’s decision came after discussions with the Safe Standing Roadshow and lobbying from supporters.

The Shrews said:

“As a club that prides itself on keeping fully abreast of the latest developments in the game, Shrewsbury Town FC have been closely monitoring the ongoing debate on safe standing.“While we moved into a new stadium in 2007 that provides comfortable, all-seater accommodation to supporters in four individual stands, we appreciate that some of our fans do prefer to watch football standing up.”

The League One side have ambitions of playing in the Championship in the “not too distant future” and, if permitted, would consider developing some of the four corners of the New Meadow into safe standing areas.

“Should trials of safe standing areas using rail seats be permitted and prove successful, that may allow us to consider building such areas in one or two corners at some point in the future,” said the club's statement.

"In order that we might have this freedom to consider that option one day, we therefore support the Football Supporters' Federation in its call on Government to allow a limited number of small-scale safe standing trials.”

Shrews fan Justin Gill was instrumental in persuading the club to back safe standing and said he was delighted by the news:

“It’s great to see that the club is backing the safe standing campaign and modern rail seat technology is a far cry from the terraces of the 1980s.”

Shrewsbury Town are the 21st club to back the Safe Standing Campaign following in the footsteps of Aldershot Town, Aston Villa, Brentford, Bristol City, Burnley, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Hull City, Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Sunderland, Swansea City, Swindon Town, Watford, AFC Wimbledon and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Scottish Premier League also supports the introduction of safe standing areas.