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The last time Burnley fans were able to stand, legally, at a league game was at Cardiff's old Ninian Park at Easter 2009 and we have to go back to the home game against Peterborough in April 1996 for the last time there was terracing in use at Turf Moor. The Longside (pictured above) had been closed in September 1995 with the last day of the Bee Hole End coming seven months later.
The decision to move away from terracing and to all seater stadia came after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 and despite attempts by football supporters to overturn the decision it has always been met with rejection.
Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, currently has a back bench Private Member's Bill before the House of Commons which, if passed, would permit (although not require) clubs in the Premier League and Football League Championship to have licensed safe standing areas if they so wished.
Foster had previously guided a motion through the Liberal Democrat annual party conference in 2008 in support of safe standing areas.
He organised a round table discussion earlier this week involving the Football Licensing Authority, Football Association, Football League, Premier League, Football Supporters' Federation and other safety experts. Anne Eyre, a Hillsborough survivor and an advocate of safe standing, was amongst those attending. She wrote the foreword to the FSF's Safe Standing Report which we are happy to link to.
There is also a good blog on the piece today from David Conn in the Guardian - click HERE to read it.
The FSF has today launched an Online Petition on the issue which is dear to the hearts of many fans who would like the choice to sit or stand in safety as they wish.
The FA and Premier League say that there's no demand for standing amongst supporters, but that is not the case as tens of thousands of fans at all-seated grounds vote on this issue with their feet every week, literally, by standing up to watch the game. Unfortunately amongst them are fans who would much rather sit, either due to disability or simple preference. If we were to introduce properly designed and managed safe standing areas then supporters could make an adult choice for themselves.
The experience in Germany where standing is permitted at domestic games is that supporters choose to sit or stand as they prefer by buying tickets in the appropriate part of the ground. The idea is spreading rapidly. New or redeveloped stadia in Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA have or are opening with safe standing areas. Amongst them is Dick's Sporting Goods Park, home of the current reigning champions of Major League Soccer in the USA & Canada, the Colorado Rapids. The owner of the Rapids is one Silent Stan Kroenke, the largest shareholder at Arsenal. The Rapids ground has the first ever purpose-designed "supporters' terrace" standing area.
UEFA and FIFA haven't got with the programme yet but even they're bound to see sense eventually. Meanwhile you've got a chance to have a real influence on this issue. Sign the FSF on-line petition AND take the time to write a letter to:
Your club chairman
and either
The Premier League (should you be visiting this site and support a Premier League club)
Richard Scudamore Esq
Chief Executive
Premier League
30 Gloucester Place
London W1U 8PL
or the Football League
Greg Clarke Esq
Chairman
Football League
Edward VII Quay
Navigation Way
Preston PR2 2YF
and
The Football Association
Alex Horne Esq
General Secretary
The Football Association
Wembley Stadium
PO Box 1966
London SW19 9EQ
Lastly if you live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland you need to write to your MP to ask them to support Don Foster MP's Private Member's Bill on safe standing when it comes back to the House of Commons for a second reading in June.
If you don't know the name of your MP, click HERE and enter your postcode.
Please pass this article on to other supporters should you feel that a return to safe standing areas should be considered.