Safe Standing comes to the Cottage

[Southcoastffc]

BUT FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS FIRST!   Bonkers - look after your own supporters first!

The Club would like to update supporters that work will commence within the seating area of the Putney End during this international break to install independent barriers to 931 seats, making provision for safe standing in the away end.

As work in the away section will not involve displacing Season Ticket Holders, with tickets are sold on a match-by-match basis by visiting clubs, immediate installation is possible.

This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.

We understand that safe standing has been a subject of discussion and interest amongst supporters and supporter groups. Before we can introduce safe standing seats in the Hammersmith End, a feasibility study will be required to establish the most appropriate locations.

Consultation with Season Ticket Holders on potential areas for safe standing seats is important before any decision is made, and this discussion is expected to commence early next year (2027).

Consideration will also need to be given to any potential changes to sightlines and possible displacement of supporters within those areas selected due to the installation of safe standing seats.

We would like to remind all supporters to refrain from persistent standing during matches. Your cooperation, whilst we work towards a permanent solution, will help us avoid further enforcement measures, which could ultimately result in supporters being displaced from affected areas.

[KJS]

All in all it makes total sense to do the away section first because as stated ST holders need to be asked their personal opinions before a decision can be made to where its put for home fans, I think that it should be in the Putney end

[MikeTheCubed]

The club is between a rock and a hard place here; supporters who have been standing for 22 years since the stands were redeveloped (seemingly without compromising safety), and petty bureaucrats at the SGSA.

[Southcoastffc]

All in all it makes total sense to do the away section first because as stated ST holders need to be asked their personal opinions before a decision can be made to where its put for home fans, I think that it should be in the Putney end

I disagree.  Giving away supporters the opportunity (or encouraging them) to stand will surely enhance the atmosphere in the away area.  It would, IMO, be far preferable to explore the HE potential first.

"This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.  The directive is to 'address and counter persistent standing'  - in the away end that could be done by effective stewarding.

[MikeTheCubed]

Giving away supporters the opportunity (or encouraging them) to stand will surely enhance the atmosphere in the away area.

The away supporters already stand up, as do the back rows of much of the Hammersmith End. The problem for the club is merely a licensing issue.

[KJS]

All in all it makes total sense to do the away section first because as stated ST holders need to be asked their personal opinions before a decision can be made to where its put for home fans, I think that it should be in the Putney end

I disagree.  Giving away supporters the opportunity (or encouraging them) to stand will surely enhance the atmosphere in the away area.  It would, IMO, be far preferable to explore the HE potential first.

"This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.  The directive is to 'address and counter persistent standing'  - in the away end that could be done by effective stewarding.

The away fans already stand throughout the game ffs

[KJS]

All in all it makes total sense to do the away section first because as stated ST holders need to be asked their personal opinions before a decision can be made to where its put for home fans, I think that it should be in the Putney end

I disagree.  Giving away supporters the opportunity (or encouraging them) to stand will surely enhance the atmosphere in the away area.  It would, IMO, be far preferable to explore the HE potential first.

"This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.  The directive is to 'address and counter persistent standing'  - in the away end that could be done by effective stewarding.

The away fans already stand throughout the game  just as ours do when we're away so it will make no difference whatsoever 🙄

[Southcoastffc]

All in all it makes total sense to do the away section first because as stated ST holders need to be asked their personal opinions before a decision can be made to where its put for home fans, I think that it should be in the Putney end

I disagree.  Giving away supporters the opportunity (or encouraging them) to stand will surely enhance the atmosphere in the away area.  It would, IMO, be far preferable to explore the HE potential first.

"This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.  The directive is to 'address and counter persistent standing'  - in the away end that could be done by effective stewarding.

The away fans already stand throughout the game ffs

Have you read my last sentence?

[Wolfie Smith]

I'm surprised they can do it at all given the Putney and Hammersmith stands are temporary, I'd have thought the barriers need to be drilled into the concrete 'floor' of the stand as many of us have seen in other away ends. Bring back the enclosure!

[Woolly Mammoth]

I'm surprised they can do it at all given the Putney and Hammersmith stands are temporary, I'd have thought the barriers need to be drilled into the concrete 'floor' of the stand as many of us have seen in other away ends. Bring back the enclosure!

Indeed

[KentFulham]

I'm surprised they can do it at all given the Putney and Hammersmith stands are temporary, I'd have thought the barriers need to be drilled into the concrete 'floor' of the stand as many of us have seen in other away ends. Bring back the enclosure!

Exactly - Fulham and Gillingham both with long term temp stands

[Jim©]

in the away end that could be done by effective stewarding

No it couldn't.
Beered up away fans on a day out won't listen to a word stewards say. How do you enforce it? Start dragging away fans out of the stand? Any idea how those beered up fans will react to one of their mates being dragged out when another 1,800 people are all standing too
It wouldn't work and doesn't work in any ground in the country. We're just a genteel/older bunch I think.

[General]

BUT FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS FIRST!   Bonkers - look after your own supporters first!

The Club would like to update supporters that work will commence within the seating area of the Putney End during this international break to install independent barriers to 931 seats, making provision for safe standing in the away end.

As work in the away section will not involve displacing Season Ticket Holders, with tickets are sold on a match-by-match basis by visiting clubs, immediate installation is possible.

This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.

We understand that safe standing has been a subject of discussion and interest amongst supporters and supporter groups. Before we can introduce safe standing seats in the Hammersmith End, a feasibility study will be required to establish the most appropriate locations.

Consultation with Season Ticket Holders on potential areas for safe standing seats is important before any decision is made, and this discussion is expected to commence early next year (2027).

Consideration will also need to be given to any potential changes to sightlines and possible displacement of supporters within those areas selected due to the installation of safe standing seats.

We would like to remind all supporters to refrain from persistent standing during matches. Your cooperation, whilst we work towards a permanent solution, will help us avoid further enforcement measures, which could ultimately result in supporters being displaced from affected areas.

makes a lot of sense to me - trial it in an area which doesn't directly and potentially negatively affect home fans experience at the ground with a fan base that tend to normally stand for the whole of the match anyway. Learn what goes right/wrong and how to steward/police it properly - take on board feedback on matchday experience if you can, and then if successful roll it out with home fans and areas.

Realistically though the only stand beyond the Putney end that is suited to standing is the Hammersmith End. You couldn't stand in the Johnny Haynes and Riverside is too boujis and also expensive. If you let people stand in the riverside, you could really damage the business model and 'premium' experience.

[General]

I'm surprised they can do it at all given the Putney and Hammersmith stands are temporary, I'd have thought the barriers need to be drilled into the concrete 'floor' of the stand as many of us have seen in other away ends. Bring back the enclosure!

Watching the horrendous AI video of Craven Cottage with various poor mock up renderings of Craven Cottage it did make e wonder when we're going to redevelop the Putney and Hammersmith end stands. Both need it as whilst they function well, they're pretty poor stands in the grand scheme of things. Thankfully we'll always have the cottage and Johnny Haynes it seems as is due to their listed status, but there must be scope to redesign both in a more meaningfully modern, pleasurable and productive way, even if the footprint for both stands has to remain relatively similar.

[TheOnionBag]

If the away section at Luton can be converted to safe standing I am sure there should be no issue doing so at Fulham, it will be interesting what they learn from implementing this at the Putney end and what this will man for the Hammersmith end next season, I wonder what the actual take up would be (the proposal to allow drinking at your seat doesn't seem to be universally welcome, in fact the majority seem to be against this being re introduced, it's the same on other teams fan sites)to want to move to a safe standing area if it in H5 at the back that's fine not sure too many will want to move to H1 just so they have safe standing.

[C Block]

BUT FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS FIRST!   Bonkers - look after your own supporters first!

The Club would like to update supporters that work will commence within the seating area of the Putney End during this international break to install independent barriers to 931 seats, making provision for safe standing in the away end.

As work in the away section will not involve displacing Season Ticket Holders, with tickets are sold on a match-by-match basis by visiting clubs, immediate installation is possible.

This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.

We understand that safe standing has been a subject of discussion and interest amongst supporters and supporter groups. Before we can introduce safe standing seats in the Hammersmith End, a feasibility study will be required to establish the most appropriate locations.

Consultation with Season Ticket Holders on potential areas for safe standing seats is important before any decision is made, and this discussion is expected to commence early next year (2027).

Consideration will also need to be given to any potential changes to sightlines and possible displacement of supporters within those areas selected due to the installation of safe standing seats.

We would like to remind all supporters to refrain from persistent standing during matches. Your cooperation, whilst we work towards a permanent solution, will help us avoid further enforcement measures, which could ultimately result in supporters being displaced from affected areas.

makes a lot of sense to me - trial it in an area which doesn't directly and potentially negatively affect home fans experience at the ground with a fan base that tend to normally stand for the whole of the match anyway. Learn what goes right/wrong and how to steward/police it properly - take on board feedback on matchday experience if you can, and then if successful roll it out with home fans and areas.

Realistically though the only stand beyond the Putney end that is suited to standing is the Hammersmith End. You couldn't stand in the Johnny Haynes and Riverside is too boujis and also expensive. If you let people stand in the riverside, you could really damage the business model and 'premium' experience.

This will come as a surprise to you, so steady yourself, but we actually once had standing in the Johnny Haynes Stand, and what a great thing it was, don't see any reason why it couldn't be reintroduced.

[General]

BUT FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS FIRST!   Bonkers - look after your own supporters first!

The Club would like to update supporters that work will commence within the seating area of the Putney End during this international break to install independent barriers to 931 seats, making provision for safe standing in the away end.

As work in the away section will not involve displacing Season Ticket Holders, with tickets are sold on a match-by-match basis by visiting clubs, immediate installation is possible.

This decision follows a directive from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Safety Advisory Group, after extensive meetings between both organisations and the Club in recent months to put measures in place to address and counter persistent standing.

We understand that safe standing has been a subject of discussion and interest amongst supporters and supporter groups. Before we can introduce safe standing seats in the Hammersmith End, a feasibility study will be required to establish the most appropriate locations.

Consultation with Season Ticket Holders on potential areas for safe standing seats is important before any decision is made, and this discussion is expected to commence early next year (2027).

Consideration will also need to be given to any potential changes to sightlines and possible displacement of supporters within those areas selected due to the installation of safe standing seats.

We would like to remind all supporters to refrain from persistent standing during matches. Your cooperation, whilst we work towards a permanent solution, will help us avoid further enforcement measures, which could ultimately result in supporters being displaced from affected areas.

makes a lot of sense to me - trial it in an area which doesn't directly and potentially negatively affect home fans experience at the ground with a fan base that tend to normally stand for the whole of the match anyway. Learn what goes right/wrong and how to steward/police it properly - take on board feedback on matchday experience if you can, and then if successful roll it out with home fans and areas.

Realistically though the only stand beyond the Putney end that is suited to standing is the Hammersmith End. You couldn't stand in the Johnny Haynes and Riverside is too boujis and also expensive. If you let people stand in the riverside, you could really damage the business model and 'premium' experience.

This will come as a surprise to you, so steady yourself, but we actually once had standing in the Johnny Haynes Stand, and what a great thing it was, don't see any reason why it couldn't be reintroduced.

Lol, I think most of the club was standing at one point, no? I remember when Al Fayed just bought the club at the Hammersmith end was standing, so was the putney end - but it didn't have a roof over it, just a food stall at the back of the top of the stand. Spent a lot of time in those stands and have fond memories, similarly the Riverside, but that had seats back then. I always enjoyed growing up watching the games with the cottage and the Stevenage Road stand framing the games, so didn't sit there until I was older and all four stands had seats by then.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

As a STH in H4 who is in the persistent standing section at the back I would fully welcome it in my section.

[Fulham 442]

I would love to stand throughout a game, as we could in years gone by. I hate all this jumping up and down trying to watch the action.

[fluffyninja]

I'm not the sharpest brain out there but how does it work at other grounds ?

I guess the safe standing section is built at the back of the stand right if not the people behind the safe standing section in seats who are and wish to remain seated would have to stand up the whole or most of the game because the people in front in the safe standing bit are standing !

Then if it's built at the back of the stand and it's introduced for atmosphere then the sound has to travel all the way from the back of the stand and people have said on here say they couldn't hear the Chelsea (I didn't go to that game) but I certainly heard the Man U fans on Sunday , but it would maybe make the atmosphere worse ?