email from club - NO MORE TICKETS ON SALE IN KOP - standing & wrong seat usage

[AWetFlannel]

It’s still shit. Maybe actually strep it up before you go on your crusade.

Talk about childish...

 

[Sean Thornton]

This forum is prone to condescension, but this has been a particularly tough read.

We have a problem which isn't a problem in other stadia. It isn't caused by the existence of standing/singing youths. These people exist in other grounds without much issue.

That the solution most people offer is "just sit in your own fucking seat" is pathetic.

Not as pathetic as the assertion that these youths aren’t causing the problem. Of course they are. This is specific to us from SCC. What’s happening at Old Trafford or Anfield is irrelevant. The problem has landed on our doorstep, council bias or not.

 

[metalblade]

 

[Linz]

Cards on the table Do you see anyway we get through this without having the back of the Kop netted and closed off?

I am afraid I don’t.

In fact I would go as far as to say the decision has already been made because both the club and the council must surely know the people in that area aren’t going to sit down.

Nope, but that's then on the fans rather than the club, I'm afraid.

People can voice their displeasure as loudly as they like, but in the real world, you catch more flies with honey. Regardless of whether people personally like it, the club has to be licenced by the local authority and that decision is heavily influenced by the safety advisory group who have a say in everything in the ground. And being in Sheffield, they're more risk-averse than other places.

If we have shown that we cannot adequately control the crowd, they're not going to let us have a safe standing section because there's nothing to then stop this getting overcrowded.

Yes, I think we should have a section of rail seating, but basically telling everyone to fuck off and we'll do what we want isn't the way to achieve it.

When it was mentioned before, there were concerns that the capacity of the area would have to reduce as, from memory, the area allowed for each rail seat took up 1.2 "normal" seats. (This may have changed subsequently but it was something like that at the time.) So not only was there an installation cost but also an ongoing reduction in capacity. Added to the likelihood of Sheffield council agreeing to it without a full, nationwide trial first being precisely nil and the lingering possibility of the Kop one day being rebuilt, it was something shunted off to the horizon.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Less shit than everywhere else. Not sure how people moving from the loudest section to another section would have helped (I never even knew about this btw). We need people sat on their hands in other sections to join.
Pointless people already in the best areas relocating.

H Block is decent. But less shit is still shit.

You weren’t aware of the singing section?

 

[FB98]

H Block is decent. But less shit is still shit.

You weren’t aware of the singing section?

No, never heard about it, certainly never noticed it or heard it.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Not as pathetic as the assertion that these youths aren’t causing the problem. Of course they are. This is specific to us from SCC. What’s happening at Old Trafford or Anfield is irrelevant. The problem has landed on our doorstep, council bias or not.

The SCC are involved because there is a problem at BL, yes. Got no issue here. This problem doesn't exist at other stadia to anywhere near the same extent.

Is the issue the existence of the youths? If so, why do the same youths at other stadia not cause the same issue?

Or, is the issue our lack of a large area of the ground where everyone stands. Due to this, our youth overcrowd the back of the kop. This isn't to justify it, or defend them, or blame anyone else.

The reason this is a problem for us is not the SCC being wankers (whether they are or not).

 

[FB98]

The SCC are involved because there is a problem at BL, yes. Got no issue here. This problem doesn't exist at other stadia to anywhere near the same extent.

Is the issue the existence of the youths? If so, why do the same youths at other stadia not cause the same issue?

Or, is the issue our lack of a large area of the ground where everyone stands. Due to this, our youth overcrowd the back of the kop. This isn't to justify it, or defend them, or blame anyone else.

The reason this is a problem for us is not the SCC being wankers (whether they are or not).

Well said mate. "Youths" isn't a fair description either imo, in my gangway the average age isn't majorly young.

 

[Bartleby]

Added to the likelihood of Sheffield council agreeing to it without a full, nationwide trial first being precisely nil and the lingering possibility of the Kop one day being rebuilt, it was something shunted off to the horizon.

Yep, in the light of Hillsborough can't see any way Sheffield council would want to be trail blazers on this.

 

[Harry's Game]

The SCC are involved because there is a problem at BL, yes. Got no issue here. This problem doesn't exist at other stadia to anywhere near the same extent.

Is the issue the existence of the youths? If so, why do the same youths at other stadia not cause the same issue?

Or, is the issue our lack of a large area of the ground where everyone stands. Due to this, our youth overcrowd the back of the kop. This isn't to justify it, or defend them, or blame anyone else.

The reason this is a problem for us is not the SCC being wankers (whether they are or not).

One issue being raised is “the Kop is not steep enough at the rear so you have to stand up to see owt at the Kop end of the ground“. this might very well be true, however that aint going to cut any ice with SAG and the council who will just say “well then close it off until you redevelop it so you can see without standing up” That will cost a lot of money.. which we don’t have.

I repeat it's inevitable the back of the Kop is going to get closed off.

 

[FB98]

The idea its somehow dangerous to stand behind a seat is nothing short of comical.

 

[Champagneblade]

Took my nephew to his first game a few weeks ago and he loved it, he can't wait to go again. Now I'm not going to be able to take him unless I move my season ticket.

I couldn't wait to take him in the Kop and for him experience that

Why don't you see if you can change a ticket for a one off in the BLUT or Westfield corner?

The Kop is the worst view in the entire ground. Maybe he would enjoy it more?

 

[sheepbridge]

Might be that, as some have already admitted, people that are 40+ have originally stood at the back of the kop without the right tickets, and now some yoof are trying to do the same.

The yoof can't be seen as worse because they got there second. They want to chant and go to the only place that consistently does. We should have sorted a larger standing and singing section ages ago.

I think the point was when people who are now 40+ stood at the back of the Kop the stand was all standing, not all seated.

When it became all seated fans got split up and the atmosphere did change of course.

The fundamental issue is that some fans actually do seem to think there is a standing and singing section where they are entitled to go and stand without regard to other fans who actually have seats in that area, probably for many years, and those fans should just disperse to other seats whilst the club and SCC ignore over crowding and breaking the requirement to be seated in the stadium.

You can't make a section bigger that doesn't actually exist, and pretending it does is what will lead to parts of the stand and potentially the whole stand to close, which is looking like a distinct possibility now.

There does need to be a discussion with the club about creating such a section, that has been stated many times in the past, but it won't be a quick or easy solution, and might well not occur until the stand is rebuilt and redesigned.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The SCC are involved because there is a problem at BL, yes. Got no issue here. This problem doesn't exist at other stadia to anywhere near the same extent.

Is the issue the existence of the youths? If so, why do the same youths at other stadia not cause the same issue?

Or, is the issue our lack of a large area of the ground where everyone stands. Due to this, our youth overcrowd the back of the kop. This isn't to justify it, or defend them, or blame anyone else.

The reason this is a problem for us is not the SCC being wankers (whether they are or not).

Currently, there is nowhere within the stadium where fans can legally stand.

I get the need and desire for a standing area, no problem with it. As l’ve said. We don’t have one. Ergo…….

 

[Sean Thornton]

Well said mate. "Youths" isn't a fair description either imo, in my gangway the average age isn't majorly young.

I used it because others had.

 

[robbiez666]

We don't have a 'standing section ', we have an all-seater stadium. If you want to stand at football, go to Hallam or Sheffield FC.

It's not a choice. You're not entitled to stand.

It's like people who go to a cinema and feel entitled to be on their phone during the film.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

It would appear that you are a prime candidate to be ‘put out to grass’ in the South Stand?

Have a withering stare courtesy of Mrs Danvers.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

You don’t get it, there is no area that accommodates them, you are breaking the ground regulations by standing up

We are not just fans to be herded we are also paying customers. The club needs to accept that standing on the terraces is a long held tradition and that they should make the time and effort to accommodate us.

 

[Superblades]

The problem the club have, is that the people on the back few rows might want to sit down down now we have been warned. However, if those further forward refuse to sit down, then those at the back will be left with no option but to stand so they can watch the game.

 

[S64 Blade]

Everyone is kinda swerving the point that the installation of any standing section wouldn't be a decision arbitrarily come to by the club but would also require sign-off by the safety licencing lot...

We can't just bang some rail seats in next month and job's a good 'un.

Yeah, you can guarantee they’d do all they could to reject any such application.

 

[Rodley]

Something no one has said. Another childish comment.

Well compared to God knows how many years the atmosphere you lot generate is shit. But you blame others and the club. Maybe too much back patting amongst yourselves.

I see you ignore the point about money though. How as things stand, do we pay for redevelopment of a standing area?

Surely just allocate a larger area of tolerance, informally, like dozens of other clubs in the country? We’ve had such an area for 30 plus years. Doesn’t require any capital expenditure whatsoever.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

The idea its somehow dangerous to stand behind a seat is nothing short of comical.

Post match I'm often crammed nose to nose on a fast moving train which is arguably more risky.

 

[Rodley]

 

[CPB]

As frustrating as this might be and some seem plain angry not sure why it's so hard to grasp that if in the next few matches the fans that are doing it continue to do the same. They will close part of the kop or worse.

I suspect if fans are stood but in their seat this isn't as much of an issue. This has to be expected and tolerated.

As has been mentioned the back of the kop is treated like standing areas with fans going up there when their ticket isn't there and thus overspill onto the steps of the gangways.

It's simple really if we continue to do it as a club we won't get our way we will be punished. You can kiss goodbye to any chance of safe standing as we would be deemed a risk for this to be implemented.

For the good of the club sit in your seat. Stand up in your seat to sing by all means. Don't be mardy or stubborn about it or we will be punished as a club and this will ruin it for everyone.

 

[ATL Recs]

SUFC never fail to disappoint .. 4 weeks ago we were four points clear at the the top and looking certs from promotion , now we are four points behind top two, the club has gone to war against its own fans fans and we face the real threat of a quarter of the stadium being closed… well played United

You can’t blame the club for this but aim your piss at SCC and that fluffy Safety Group

 

[Greenwich Blade]

According to that Burnley letter fans are allowed to stand "for short durations in periods of play where it could be deemed unnatural to remain seated."

This seems to imply that if it's an exciting match you are allowed to stand up more. If we're in the 85th minute and surging forward to find a winning goal, for example, are you allowed to stand then?

If you obey the rules to the letter, you'd be forced to stay seated when we get a winning goal.

I foresee a future where we are forced to celebrate goals with jazz-hands only.

 

[Harry's Game]

The problem the club have, is that the people on the back few rows might want to sit down down now we have been warned. However, if those further forward refuse to sit down, then those at the back will be left with no option but to stand so they can watch the game.

Hence why it’s inevitable the back of the Kop is going to be closed off.

that decision has already been taken I think, and it’s the real reason they are no longer selling match day tickets for the Kop, it’s so they can identify and prepare to offer other seats to people who will be moved after the world cup when those back 8 rows or so are netted off.

 

[tyke1889]

what do you do during the week, sit in roads or climb bridges and disrupt traffic

No, because (whether you agree with it or not) the people that do that are doing it for the whole of humanity.

 

[Dkc]

I foresee a future where we are forced to celebrate goals with jazz-hands only.

Or holding a sign above our head that says 'goal' - like a '4' sign in cricket

 

[Drunk blade]

Not been in the kop for years, had a season ticket in there years ago, it was always the same at the back and was never really an issue IMO.... if they are throwing flares etc, by all means kick them out and ban the morons... but standing at the back making a noise isn't really a big issue surely!!?

We now live in a society where a 50 odd year old potential paedophile bloke can stick a wig and high heels on and use the women's bogs, that young girls use and that's perfectly acceptable, yet you can't stand up with your mates at a footy match or have a beer whilst watching the game ... strange times