Various meetings are to be held this month about the re-introduction of safe seating in the PL along the lines of Germany and Norway etc. Kate Hoey is to discuss the issue at an FLA meeting on Thursday. Now, various fans groups, clubs etc have written to her in support of the idea and it seems to me that we might like to add our oar. I think it would be great - prices for all pockets, increased capacity, a focal point for noise etc, maybe in the East Stand? Does anyone have any views?

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Answers

>>>>a focal point for noise etc

What a good idea - let's make it the whole bliddy ground if it works!

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

I meant safe standing BTW (not safe seating!)LOL, Jonno.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

How about the upper tier, that would be frightening.

Seriously, it's a non-starter, clubs could put in cheap bench seating which would increase capacity but the target market is the ABC1's so why offer cheaper options. The working classes had there go but crowd trouble meant the trouble makers had to be priced out of it.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Thing is, everyone will get a taste for it when they go to Craven Cottage next season... I think the idea is that the standing bit would also be the nominal singing end...

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Fulham will play at Reading next season while it's being developed.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Will they? I thought they had got permission to play at Craven Cottage for one season only? Good if they are at Reading - one London- based team fewer to get beaten by... BTW re targeting ABC1s, I have a feeling you were having a laugh when you said that, but if not, I honestly think club are waking up to the perilous path they are treading if they don't let at least parts of the game be reclaimed by its traditional supporters.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

>>>>The working classes had there go but crowd trouble meant the trouble makers had to be priced out of it.

Ahem - loutish behaviour is NOT confined to the "working classes", indeed probably quite the reverse.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Would you like to substantiate that last comment Jonno?

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2000

Fulham will have trouble playing at Reading next year because the London Irish rugby team play there as well.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

I'll help Jonno out here.......when the hoolies werew running the show in the 80's...maybe not the 70's but deffo the 80's, a large proportion were working proffesionals...nice jobs...families...decent motors....and of course the money to follow their team home and away. This has been shown to be fact.....most were not young scallies with nothing eles to do.

BTW...I reckon we have a chance with standing terraces.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

It's ok for all you Goliaths. When you're a shortasre, it's even a pain having to 'stan' up if you hate sun-lun'. So, no thankyou, I'll stay seated if you don't mind. :-))

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

It's not final but Fulham are likely tobe playing at Reading. The Rugger lot play on a Sunday & it's ecpected that Fulham will alternate with Reading. QPR is their other option.

Personally I prefer standing & would choose to pay £15 to stand rather than £25 to sit but I was trying to state the psyche of the clubs top brass. They don't want 10,000 people paying a tenner when they can have 5,000 paying £20 and buying merchandise etc. Whilst I can't agree that any working class is automaitically a thug, this is the argument that will be put forward backed up by the fact that trouble has subsided since seats were introduced & prices went up. Lanky is right about the 80's those running things all had cash.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000

If Fulham play at Reading they'll probably go down at the end of their first season because the pitch will be so bad from all the rugby games and football matches, they won't be able to ping the ball around as much as they do now.

-- Anonymous, December 06, 2000