Shrewsbury Town safe standing project

Date: 23rd May 2018

Safe standing becomes a reality in English football this week with the long-anticipated installation and completion of 555 rail seats at the Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium, home to League One play-off finalists, Shrewsbury Town FC. 

A campaign led by Shrewsbury Town’s most influential fan group, the Supporters’ Parliament, who successfully worked with the club, utilised crowd funding and enlisted the help of bookmaker FansBet, means that from August 2018 their supporters will be able to choose to enjoy their football while standing up.

The Supporters’ Parliament already work closely with FansBet, the online betting site committed to sharing 50% of net profits directly with fans groups.

FansBet’s Head Of Communications, Tom Lee, commented: “We are with Shrewsbury Town and its Supporters’ Parliament every step of the way. Safe standing has huge support amongst match-goers, and FansBet are front and centre in empowering fans to make a difference. Hopefully this is just the beginning.”

Of course, safe standing already exists here in Scotland with Celtic Park playing host to just under 3,000 standing fans in the rail-seat section at every domestic match.  The section, which has its own Code of Conduct to ensure its safe operation, has been open for two seasons now and by all accounts has been very successful.  

Falkirk FC have also carried out a feasibility study to cost a safe standing area for their ‘Active Support’ and are looking into ways of funding this.

 

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