Stand Up Sit Down

NEWS - April 2005

Date	Action
1st April 2005	The whole ground stands for the last 20 minutes of Southend's match with Bristol Rovers, as home supporters celebrate going top of the league.
4th April 2005	The Premier League agree to meet again with Stand Up Sit Down . A date will be arranged shortly and it is hoped that the Football League will also attend.
5th April 2005	Writing to a Stand Up Sit Down member FLA Chief Executive John de Quidt says that ‘all lower division clubs are strongly encouraged to make their grounds all seated'. Stand Up Sit Down have previously been told of more than one club who found they could only obtain grant assistance for ground development if it was all seated.
6th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down write to Reading FC in response to an email sent one of our members in which their Safety Officer said that the Madejski Stadium is totally unsuitable for standing. We question why Reading play music after the home side scores, which encourages supporters to jump around, and must be less safe than simply standing during normal play. We ask that given this creates an unnecessary safety risk, whether Reading FC intend to continue to play music after goals are scored.
6th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down is contacted by a journalist who is writing an article on the standing issue for the Guardian. She is very interested in our campaign and the article should appear next week.
8th April 2005	Norwich City give permission for Stand Up Sit Down members and supporters to distribute Yellow Cards inside Carrow Road, for the protest against the FLA's clampdown on standing.
8th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down arrange to meet with the Football Supporters Federation Chairman on 19 th April for an informal discussion about our campaigns.
8th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down membership reaches 2400.
8th April 2005	Middlesbrough supporters arrange to meet with club officials to discuss a Yellow Card protest at The Riverside for their game v Spurs on 7th May. Spurs fans also hope to demonstrate in the away end.
9th April 2005	Stewards at West Ham try to get Coventry supporters to sit at the start of the game. The supporters refuse and virtually all stand for the whole game.
12th April 2005	Crowd trouble causes the Milan derby to be abandoned – in an all seater stadium.
15th April 2005	Interviewed on Radio Five Live following the abandonment of the AC Milan v Inter Milan match, Sports Minister Richard Caborn, quotes all seater stadia as one of the reasons why we no longer have such problems in England . He fails to mention that the San Siro is all seated. Mr. Caborn also said that all seater wasn't popular with some fans. A contrast to the FLA 's refusal to acknowledge that some supporters want to stand.
15th April 2005	The Guardian online carries an excellent article on the standing issue by Georgina Turner. The full article can be read on: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1459579,00.html Anne Williams, chair of Hillsborough Justice Campaign, was quoted as saying: “My lovely son Kevin did not die because of standing on terraces, he died because of the lack of control and care by South Yorkshire Police. I believe terraces are safe without perimeter fences. Standing never killed anybody, cages and treating people like animals did." FLA Chief Executive John De Quidt is quoted as saying: “ Standing would change the whole character of football crowds these days," he went on. "You're likely to lose the women and older people who tend to be a civilising force on the crowd, and be left with masses of testosterone-fuelled young men." Asked to comment on German supporters being allowed to stand Mr De Quidt said: “It's a question of culture, the way the fans behave here compared to the way they do there. It tends to be a defined sort of crowd that we get at football games here.” The article continues: ”No mention, strangely, of the German fans who went on the rampage little more than a fortnight ago in Slovenia, smashing cars, throwing flares, and clashing with policemen.” Quoting responses from Premiership clubs the article says: “Southampton were happy to back the campaign (SUSD) to ask the FLA to consider the idea, and they were joined by Villa, Birmingham and Norwich in believing it was something their fans would like to see. Portsmouth and West Brom - cited financial reasons for keeping their grounds all-seater, but none dismissed the idea out of hand, and were all open to discussion, should the relevant authorities undertake such talks.” The article concludes: “it is an insult to the memory of those that died (at Hillsborough) to use their fate in such a way. If there really are fans who would prefer to stand, they must be allowed a voice. And somebody must listen.”
15th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down receives the following comment on Mr. De Quidt's statement from a Brighton supporter: “My wife a "testosterone filled" 53 year old (H R T?) and myself (god I wish I had more left), a 52 year old pair of BRIGHTON fans, deliberately choose to get tickets for the back row at WITHDEAN because we both prefer standing and have worked out that the stewards tend to let us get away with it.”
15th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down petition reaches 4500 signatures.
16th April 2005	In response to Mr De Quidt's statement Jack Fawbert, Senior Lecturer in Sociology at De Montfort University tells Stand Up Sit Down : “I would like to point out some inaccuracies in De Quidt's statement that suggests that women would be a 'civilising force' on the football crowd. This is a very old argument that has been rehearsed, resurrected and shown to be false on many occasions in the past.”
16th April 2005	2,500 Millwall and an estimated 10,000 West Ham fans stand for the whole match at Upton Park, showing once more that the authorities are unable to get people to sit. This again raises the question as to whether the authorities feel the risk of forcing supporters to sit at such a high profile game outweighs the dangers of standing, highlighting just how tense relationships between stewards and supporters can be.
16th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down receive the following reply to their letter to Reading FC's Safety Officer. “Thank you for your letter dated 6th April 2005. I do not intent to enter into regular dialogue with you as we have fundamentally different views on the standing issue. Football is a game of atmosphere, passion and desire. I do not intentionally create a situation that detracts from those issues unless they impact upon safety. In short, I want home and away fans to enjoy themselves as much as possible whilst adhering to the Ground Regulations and the Laws of the Land.” We reply, asking him to explain that if he considers standing to be so dangerous, why he allows music to be played after goals, which must greatly increase the risk by encouraging supporters to jump around.
16th April 2005	Over 100 members have joined Stand Up Sit Down after reading the Guardian article.
16th April 2005	Charlton Chief Executive Peter Varney writes in the club programme saying that following a recent trip to a Bundesliga game in Germany where standing is allowed he is convinced the atmosphere of English stadiums would be improved by safe terracing areas. He said “The atmosphere was fantastic and the noise deafening. It convinced me that our game has lost it's vital ingredient".
16th April 2005	Gary Burns a Hillsborough survivor and now secretary of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign backed Peter Varney saying “Terracing wasn't the deciding factor on the day - it was bad management, bad policing and a badly designed stadium. I could see the reintroduction of terracing as long as fences were not brought back as well”.
17th April 2005	An estimated 30,000 Newcastle & Man Utd fans stand in the lower and upper tiers throughout their FA Cup semi final at the Millennium Stadium. Surely it is now time for the authorities to accept that they cannot stop standing, and to allow it to be properly managed, bringing safety and customer care benefits for all concerned.
17th April 2005	10 Downing Street reply to our letter questioning the continued need for the FLA, saying that it has been forwarded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, ‘so that they are also aware of our views'.
18th April 2005	Liberal Democrat Sports Spokesman Bob Russell MP replies to our letter, saying that he supports safe standing areas, but believes that the FLA is a necessary organisation because an umbrella organisation is needed to monitor the work being done by clubs and local authorities . He signs his letter : Bob Russell – a loyal supporter who still stands on the terraces at Colchester United.
18th April 2005	When Saturday Comes magazine gives Stand Up Sit Down its website of the month award. WSC says: ".....the manifesto is so fair and sensible that you find yourself nodding in agreement as you go through the site and 'we're all reasonable people' tone of flexibility and compromise leads you to think that surely clubs, fans and footballing bodies can work together with ease and harmony. To the good people of SUSD so you don't feel like life is one long tiresome battle with a dense obstructive steward please accept the WSC Website of the Month award for May.
19th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down meet informally with the chairman of the Football Supporters Federation and discuss a joint approach to the incoming Government after the election.
19th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down speak with a Premier League representative who appears very interested in our campaign. She found the notes of our meeting with the FLA to be interesting reading. A joint meeting with Stand Up Sit Down and the Premier and Football Leagues is being arranged.
20th April 2005	In response to our question as to why he allows music to be played after goals, thereby encouraging supporters to jump around, Clive Doyle Reading FC's Safety Officer tells Stand Up Sit Down that he is not prepared to enter into discussion with us.
22nd April 2005	A week after publication, the Guardian article is still attracting new members. Many existing members have emailed us to voice their concern that a civil servant should hold such views about woman and older people. We will shortly be writing to Mr De Quidt and passing on these comments.
22nd April 2005	Charlton's Chief Executive Peter Varney replies to our letter setting out the case for standing areas and our proposals, saying that he agrees with everything we said. He is using his office to secure a study of the German model by the Premier League and has invited Sky to do a short piece on how Charlton could introduce standing at the Valley.
22nd April 2005	Editor of popular Liverpool FC Forum tells SUSD that he finds it ironic that the Kop is probably the best example of SUSD's proposals and that his opinion of the FLA is low, to say the least. Supporters of Manchester United were saying on chat forums how much they enjoyed the atmoshere at Goodison Park and that they wished that Old Trafford could replicate a similar atmosphere. Television picitures show both sets of supporters standing for long periods throughout the game.
25th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down write to FLA Chief Executive John de Quidt, sending comments from 38 of our members, incensed at his remarks with regard to women and older supporters in the recent Guardian article.
26th April 2005	The Football Supporters Federation ask Stand Up Sit Down to compile a joint report outlining the statement of case on the removal of the regulation prohibiting safe standing areas in the top two Divisions.
27th April 2005	A Manchester City fan sends us copies of his correspondence with City following his ejection and two game ban for persistent standing. He is so disgusted with the way he has been treated that he no longer wishes to watch his team. In his letter to the fan, Man City Safety Officer Peter Fletcher says that the club have to comply to the conditions of their safety certificate, but that he personally would welcome of safe standing areas.
28th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down are advised that we should send a copy of our letter to John de Quidt with members comments to FLA Chairman Anthony Speed. These are sent with a copy of the Guardian article.
29th April 2005	Colchester United announce plans for their new ground. They say that this has to be all seated as to include standing areas could jeopardise funding from the football authorities.
29th April 2005	All 2,500 Sunderland around 15,000 West Ham supporters stand throughout their game at Upton Park, showing yet again that the current regulation is unworkable.
30th April 2005	Radio Five Live report from the Southampton v Norwich game, that to a man, woman and child Norwich fans are standing at St Mary's, no doubt being too nervous to sit. Match of the Day shows large sections of home crowd standing as well and not just "at moments of high excitement".
30th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down receive a reply to our letter from FLA Chief Executive John de Quidt. He says that the Guardian article is ‘a pretty vicious hatchet job on the FLA and on me personally. However, none of the quotes attributed to me accurately represent what I said. Indeed, some of them are pure invention'. We have contacted the Guardian journalist Georgina Turner, who says that she stands by the quotes in her article. Mr de Quidt also said that he found our members comments accusing him ‘inter alia' of racism, sexism & ageism, to be hurtful and offensive. He said that he is saddened that we appear to have turned the focus of our campaign into denigrating the FLA and that in view of all these factors has nothing further to add. He did not answer the questions in our letter.
30th April 2005	Stand Up Sit Down write back to John de Quidt, pointing out that our members were commenting on quotes that had been attributed to him in a respected national newspaper and that those reading this had no reason to doubt their accuracy. We suggest that his feelings with regard to these comments should be directed not at those members of the public who wrote them, or us for sending them to him, but to the organisation who he believes misrepresented him. We make it clear that our focus is not on denigrating the FLA and that dialogue between us should continue. We point out that the standing issue continues to cause problems, and that we both agree the situation is not satisfactory, but differ in our approach to solve it. We offer to meet again with Mr de Quidt.

		PREVIOUS NEWS
July 2004	August 2004	September 2004	October 2004	November 2004
December 2004	January 2005	February 2005	March 2005