Ironically, English football is arguably facing its biggest crisis since the 1980s.
Well, not a crisis as such. Of course, in the ‘80s, hooliganism was rife to the point where attending a football match was almost deemed unsafe. Attendances were spiralling downwards and, on April 15 1989, football in this country hit its lowest low with a sickening, deafening thud.
All-seater stadiums were introduced en masse following the Taylor Report and football was changed forever, maybe even for the better.
Now though, the Premier League has a problem on its hands. Atmospheres at its stadiums are becoming increasingly quiet as it becomes clear that two thirds of its teams strive for little more than mere survival; this season, even some pockets of grounds such as The Emirates or The Etihad almost made Portman Road look as tightly-packed as an IKEA wardrobe for sardines.
How does England’s top tier prevent its bubble from bursting when two of the ‘big six’ can’t even fill their ground? How do they raise the decibels to produce the atmosphere that those international television audiences absolutely crave?
Football fans appear to have the answer and are desperate to make it a reality – especially after West Brom’s application to install safe standing next season was bafflingly rejected.
After the ruling, a spokesman for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said they had, “no plans to change [their] position and introduce standing accommodation at grounds in the top two divisions”, providing confirmation, if ever it were needed, that the government are very much in touch with the people.
Further confirmation arrived just 22 days later when on May 1 a debate on safe standing was granted in parliament, after 100,000 football supporters signed a petition asking for its application in English football.
The petition was one of just 20 ever to reach 100,000 signatures on the government website, and the eighth-fastest to move between 10 and 100,000 signatories. Safe standing is finally due to be debated in parliament on June 25.
Of course, Celtic have already had 2,900 rail seats in use since the 2016/17 season (due to coming under the jurisdiction of the Scottish parliament), while safe standing is successfully utilised throughout Europe, most noticeably in Germany where at least 10 per cent of tickets sold must be for standing areas.
The case for safe standing is a strong one, and this hasn’t gone unnoticed by Norwich City.
Last month, while the safe standing petition was gaining traction, the club tweeted a link encouraging fans to sign. Meanwhile, Managing Director Steve Stone has publicly spoken out in support of it, while local MPs from across the political spectrum (Labour’s Clive Lewis, the Lib Dems’ Norman Lamb and the Conservatives’ Chloe Smith) have lobbied the Home Office to meet them and discuss it.
Norwich fan groups such as Barclay End Norwich have also made a big push in recent years to not only introduce safe standing but improve the general atmosphere at Carrow Road, and in particular the Barclay Stand.
Thomas Markham-Uden, from Barclay End Norwich, said: “The story of our atmosphere is one shared by many clubs in the top two tiers of football in this country. Younger fans priced out of attending, vocal supporters unable to group together on match days, the proliferation of television money increasingly rendering attending football akin to a theatre, where people pay their money and want to be entertained.
“Since our inception we’ve been part of an increasingly vocal cohort of supporters groups and organisations who have championed safe standing’s introduction and have encouraged fans and MPs to educate themselves on why it would make such a positive difference.
“The fact that we’re at the stage where it is being formally debated in parliament is testament to the work that everyone involved in this campaign has put in.”
Barclay End Norwich ideally want safe standing installed across the entire Lower Barclay, a potentially pricey project. But Steve Stone believes the club could fund it using a system similar to that used to fund the club’s new academy building.
He told the EDP: “If [safe standing] did become a possibility, from a legal point of view, that [the bond scheme] is a way you could fund changing Carrow Road to make elements of it compatible for safe standing, in the same way we have looked at the academy and Colney.”
Either way, the Canaries will get a first-hand look at safe standing next season, if Shrewsbury are promoted. The Shrews, who used a crowdfunding website to raise the £65,000 required, will begin installing 550 rail seats at their New Meadow ground today.
The irony of course is that, while clubs below the second tier of English football are allowed standing areas, Shrewsbury must install the seats before they are officially promoted on June 7 (if they win the League One play-off final). Otherwise, only regular, less-safe standing will be allowed at their Shropshire ground next season.
In Norwich though, safe standing may not be enough in itself to improve the recent timid atmosphere at Carrow Road. Thomas continued: “It can act as an impetus and if it’s introduced in tandem with unreserved standing then that would be even better, but there are other positives for its introduction, such as allowing supporters the choice on whether they stand and allowing this to be done safely.
“The biggest factor that would improve atmosphere is a cultural shift to fans vocally backing their team regardless of what’s happening during the 90 minutes of play.”
Hopefully, Carrow Road will have its own Yellow Wall one day. But to have it populated with fans that back their side regardless of the team’s performance? No petition could achieve that, surely…
Good article Jack.
I don’t think I’ve spoken to a single supporter of ANY club who has a thought or word against safe standing. The irony of the Shrewsbury situation is not lost on me!
In this instance our local politicians have done as well as they could for us. I know Norman Lamb (my MP) has a season ticket and I’m told that Clive Lewis does too. I saw his Norwich South predecessor Ian Gibson at Carrow Road several times so presume he had an ST also.
Although my ST is Upper Barclay I sometimes take in the odd Cup game in the LB to relive my youth – wouldn’t it be great if I could stand again for such a Cup match. Here’s hoping.
Thanks for the kind words Martin, I think the thought of being able to (legally) stand in the lower Barclay for a big game should excite most Norwich fans!
The current law is clearly an ass. Can I just point out, though, that neither the academy nor the bond scheme which is paying for the modernisation at Colney is anything to do with The Nest.
That’s the name of the new facility being built near Norwich airport by the Community Sports Foundatiom. It’s separate from the club’s academy in location, purpose and funding.
It won’t be used by the club. It will be used to help the Foundation make lives better.
It’s an important distinction, because this weekend’s Legends game is to raise money for The Nest, and there will be a lot more fundraising. Fans shouldn’t think it’s all been taken care of by the Canaries Bond.
The Nest will be developed at the old Anglian Windows Social Club site and is indeed something we should all support in any way we can – in my view at least.
Its purpose is a fine one and I hope it succeeds. Inter Forever will be well aware of what their presence at Carrow Road on Sunday is contributing to and if they can back it surely we can too.
It is a totally different project to the academy as you say.
Duly noted Mick, thanks for pointing that out! I must admit I find the whole thing a tad confusing.
Personally if some safe standing can be introduced I’d back it wholeheartedly provided that there is also a crackdown on those who stand regardless of the people sitting behind them. OK, being over 60, arthritic and 5′ 2” on tiptoe I do have a vested interest in this….
At Bolton for example, where we had far more space than we needed one particularly awkward group arrived late and promptly stood in front of my well-populated row. One of my neighbours asked them to sit, or move to somewhere that wasn’t inconveniencing others, and received abuse for his trouble. Fellow fans eh…. The stewards didn’t care a jot. The last time I went to Stoke I think every single one of us was standing throughout, though as it was a dire match not seeing very much was probably an advantage.
I do think though that to “improve the atmosphere” it would need quite a large area to make much difference. And any idea that attendances would rise is dubious – I doubt very many people don’t go to games because they are supposed to sit down.
As far as I can see there was nothing baffling about the WBA rejection – it’s simple, the law doesn’t allow for it. And like it or not the reality is that changing a law like that is going to be very low on any government list of priorities in the current climate.
I was at Villa Park for the FA cup semi-final the day of the Hillsborough tragedy, along with my young daughter, and was very concerned at the surges that were happening, so I can see the argument for all-seater stadiums. However, I understand that the standing arrangements at German stadiums have barriers along each row of the terrace (with built-in seats, for use in periods when there is no play), so eliminating the possibility of surges, assuming the gangways are maintained clear.
While at my age, I’m happy to sit and watch, I don’t want to stop those who wish to stand, and I am sure it would improve the atmosphere in the ground.
Perhaps if those in government who reject the position were to attend a couple of matches, and talk to some supporters, they might developed a better understanding.
Same here Jim. As the Hillsborough tragedy was unfolding, like you, I was stood shoulder to shoulder with what felt like the rest of the Yellow Army in the City half of the Holte End. The surges that day were, as you say, on another level to anything any of us had witnessed in the Barclay. To put it into some kind of context, the guy standing directly to my right both fainted and vomited but such was the compactness of the crowd, was unable to move and was simply held upright by the crowd around him. Unpleasant at the the time – for him and those around him – but understandably forgotten in the awful aftermath of that afternoon.
We were fortunate, and managed to get just in front of a barrier, but some of those standing just behind the barrier must have been very close to getting severe crush injuries.
When we put the car radio on after the match and heard about Hillsborough, the disappointment of loosing that day paled into insignificance.
I still think it’s possible to design safe standing areas, though.
Totally agree Jim… the designs I’ve seen of the railed seats/standing are ideal. Celtic is a perfect example. I’m most definitely in favour.
There’s double irony here, if Shrewsbury are actually promoted – they could be playing in the same League, with safe standing, as WBA, who’v just had their request refused!
Disclosure – I’ve lived in the States for 17 years and have seen 14 NCFC games in that time.
However…
Roughly four decades ago, as a six year old lad, Mum took me to Carrow Road for my first ever match. I have no idea who we were playing, but that’s not relevant. What is relevant is the atmosphere.
We were standing in the Barclay, and, occasionally, the people we were with would share salutations to the people to our left. Sing, jump up and down and, occasionally surge. I’m sure it’s the worst 90 mins of Mum’s life, as I’d be hoisted upon shoulders, told to FO, and be passed back to her, sometimes by the same person.. It was fantastic. It was the day I fell in love with NCFC.
Fast forward and find me sitting in a glum Barclay and thinking to myself what happened? My answer was a lack of standing, a lack of bonding, a lack of fraternity. In the cauldron of the standing Barclay one could find bin men and lawyers with equally foul mouths supporting the team. That just doesn’t seem to happen any more. And it makes me sad.
Wonderful post Geoff… one that many will identify with. While safe standing will never replicate – for all the right reasons – that swaying of the crowd, it will surely help lift the mood.
Nail walloped firmly on the cranium Geoff.
Your lawyer reference resonates with me – I genuinely stood on the River End while a couple of guys in Sou’Westers and an old-fashioned banker type in pin-stripes were swearing at the ref using the same words but with different accents. I think the Sou’Westers were worn more out of comedy as the lads were relatively young and from Yarmouth but the banker’s garb was certainly for real.
Let’s not get too nostalgic though – there were certainly some scary moments too.
Great post.