Seating at Tottenham and other football grounds (a moan)
Ever since the Hillsborough tragedy, we’ve had seats at grounds (forced by the Government), and football clubs have tried to reverse that policy ever since. Now they/ we may be a step closer to getting our standing area back again.
Tottenham stated that the club was ‘delighted’ to receive an invitation from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to apply to be an ‘early adopter’ of safe standing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Unlike some clubs, when the stadium opened in 2019, the club were wise enough to future-proof for safe standing in the South Stand and at the away end.
Tottenham also designed the stadium to have a certain level of comfort and legroom, but not only in the sitting areas, but if ever there were going to be a standing area the same there as well. A 900mm tall bar was also added to allow standing without blocking vision.
The club has to apply for an application – for safe standing – by October 6th and then sell standing tickets from January next year. Tottenham must tick several boxes to meet the criteria, including the option to sit or stand without views being blocked.
Daniel Levy provided this statement: “The Club has led on lobbying the Government for safe standing at stadia and is delighted that this will now be possible. It delivers choice for fans attending the game – whether home or away supporters – and the vast majority of our fans are in favour of this scheme. We are extremely proud of our ‘safe seating’ design, which ensures both comfort and safety, whether standing or seated while maintaining the same aesthetics as in all other areas of the stadium.”
Thoughts
Safe standing is ok providing they allow those that wish to sit, to sit in comfort and with no obstruction. I am not in the South stand, however, certain people stand there at the moment, obstructing those that wish to sit. The same with the away games, people stand with no regard for those that want to sit. In particular, those supporters of a certain age or have a disability (arthritis etc., such as I).
The Tottenham stadium was made to make money, however, once you’ve purchased your seat, you are left alone to sort out any standing/ obstruction issues. If you approach the stewards, they just say, “there is nothing I can do”, and walk away.
THERE IS NO PROBLEM where I sit at Tottenham (West stand, upper) unless there is a goal, but we all quickly sit back down again. The problem for me and others is at away matches, where nobody gives a shit.
What do you think?
Stay safe, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
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