Safe-Standing petition

[Cureton's Volley]

Hmm I hope not, but we can only hope

[John Madejski's Wallet]

There should be a standing section, it should be the north stand, and all you Y25ers should move to it.

I've always thought that it ruins what little atmosphere we have by not having the loud folk behind the goal and facing the away fans

[SPARTA]

There should be a standing section, it should be the north stand, and all you Y25ers should move to it.

I would too, but it would kill the atmosphere, not improve it. Why? Because at home games you never get more than 1000 home fans singing, and from having a ST in the North Stand the first time we won promotion to the PL, the noise doesn't carry. It carried when 4000 away fans who were up for it and steaming were singing, but we wouldn't have that. The interaction with the away fans would be zero.

In my mind I would make the top half of the East Stand safe-standing. That way the lower half (4000 ish) can still sit, and the top half, plus 80% the FSF suggest the capacity increases by, get to stand. Best of both worlds for the same stand, and the current interaction with the away fans improves. There is no additional risk of trouble, as there is never any trouble with Reading fans, and if the club wanted to they could net off the area in front of the big screen, and being the top half standing, you can't move forward to get closer to the corner. Just my take on what I'd like.

[Cureton's Volley]

There should be a standing section, it should be the north stand, and all you Y25ers should move to it.

I would too, but it would kill the atmosphere, not improve it. Why? Because at home games you never get more than 1000 home fans singing, and from having a ST in the North Stand the first time we won promotion to the PL, the noise doesn't carry. It carried when 4000 away fans who were up for it and steaming were singing, but we wouldn't have that. The interaction with the away fans would be zero.

In my mind I would make the top half of the East Stand safe-standing. That way the lower half (4000 ish) can still sit, and the top half, plus 80% the FSF suggest the capacity increases by, get to stand. Best of both worlds for the same stand, and the current interaction with the away fans improves. There is no additional risk of trouble, as there is never any trouble with Reading fans, and if the club wanted to they could net off the area in front of the big screen, and being the top half standing, you can't move forward to get closer to the corner. Just my take on what I'd like.

This is the way to do it. Anything else would be pointless and ignored... or if over-enforced just another reason not to bother with home games.

[handbags_harris]

Maybe if the Y25ers moved to the North Stand there would be a need to be proactive in getting behind the team, rather than constantly being reactive in baiting away followings with inane drivel.

North stand for me every time.

[Ian Royal]

I'd hope that a section of the North and a section of the East would be converted. I agree that there's basically zero chance of safe standing being introduced in Y26 and Y25 seems unlikely too, because of the proximity to the away section.

I want to stand, but I don't want to be behind the goal.

I think it's doubtful we'd convert a large section of the ground as well. We could probably manage filling 2000 standing places regularly, but I do wonder with our rather passive and middleclass fans whether we could do much better than that for most games.

Ideally, I'd like to see the upper half of a couple of blocks in the East, say Y23 & 24 and the same in the North, probably directly behind the goal. I'm not sure what it'd do to sightlines from neighbouring blocks. Practically though I think the club will go with one section and it'll be in the North, maybe the whole back of it. I'd grudgingly move there to stand.

Seeing as we want to expand capacity, but would struggle with a big jump this would seem the ideal small scale uplift, depending on cost. But I suspect we'll be far from the leading pack in converting when it does eventually coome.

[sandman]

I'm sure you're allowed to stand up during matches Ian. After all, it is your living room.

[SPARTA]

I'm sure you're allowed to stand up during matches Ian. After all, It is your living room.

[Winchester Royal]

How about the lower west, and the north?

[Ian Royal]

How about the lower west, and the north?

Can't see there being much interest in the West.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Nor the North, South and parts of the East....think that you would be surprised at just how many have NEVER stood at a game in their entire life...and just how many that used to (stand)..can't really be bothered to anymore

We have been sleepwalked into the changes over the past 25 years

[Ian Royal]

Nor the North, South and parts of the East....think that you would be surprised at just how many have NEVER stood at a game in their entire life...and just how many that used to (stand)..can't really be bothered to anymore

We have been sleepwalked into the changes over the past 25 years

The regular and frequent standing in the East would disagree with you. As would the good away attendences at grounds with terraces. And you'll note I never suggested it would be a majority, or even a large minority.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Who's arguing Ian?

Just making my tired old point....with my tired old legs.

Many young supporters (including my own kids), have never stood at a game for 90 minutes+

[CzechRoyal]

Who's arguing Ian?

Just making my tired old point....with my tired old legs.

Many young supporters (including my own kids), have never stood at a game for 90 minutes+

At my school I get the impression that next to no one has ever stood for 90 minutes and they don't see it as part of the game for fans.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Exactly

Thank you!

[madreadingfan]

I reckon this will never happen unfortunately. However, if it did I reckon a split between East Y19 and North B18 would be great in the corner.

[Green]

Nor the North, South and parts of the East....think that you would be surprised at just how many have NEVER stood at a game in their entire life...and just how many that used to (stand)..can't really be bothered to anymore

We have been sleepwalked into the changes over the past 25 years

Good post.

[Ian Royal]

An obvious place to install it would be at the back of the South stand for the away fans, given they often stand anyway. I wonder if clubs would be brave enough to put in standing in away sections.

[tmesis]

An obvious place to install it would be at the back of the South stand for the away fans, given they often stand anyway. I wonder if clubs would be brave enough to put in standing in away sections.

I'd rather campaign to have the roof removed over the away end, so they get soaked when it rains like in the old days.

[Green]

You're getting wet, you're getting wet
We're not, we're not