Complete by 18 January
Fans who have requested to be part of the ‘All Together Town’ online panel will today be sent a survey to gauge opinion on Safe Standing.
Starting in September 2013, Huddersfield Town created a new fan engagement initiative called ‘All Together Town’ (ATT).
A survey in late 2012 had identified key supporter issues which included the quality and price of food and drink, stewarding, parking, match day entertainment, Safe Standing and atmosphere.
With the return of shares in the John Smith’s Stadium to the Club, ATT was created and an initial meeting in September, attended by members of the Huddersfield Town Board of Directors, has since been followed up by further online and offline interaction to rank the importance of the aforementioned issues to the fan-base.
Huddersfield Town Chief Executive Nigel Clibbens commented:
“Safe standing is an issue that has been raised through ‘All Together Town’ and at meeting on 28 November we got detailed feedback and views from fans. Up to this point, the Club has adopted a ‘watch and wait’ approach, mainly driven by the wider issues of stadium ownership that we have specifically faced.
“With the share issue successfully resolved the Stadium atmosphere, including standing, has come to the fore. Following the initial ATT survey and aforementioned meeting, this has gathered pace and the Club has embarked on a process to form its position on the Safe Standing debate.
“Clubs have asked the Board of The Football League to review the issue of rail seating and standing in the Championship and find out what progress can be made and the options available.”
On 27 December 2013, The Football League asked its clubs to participate in a consultation exercise.
“The Football League has invited Clubs to comment on what change, if any, you would like to see to the current regulations and to Government policy and answer four questions:
QUESTION 1
Should The Football League approach the Minister for Sport to request that the ‘all-seater’ stadia requirement for Championship clubs be reviewed with a view to the re-introduction of standing accommodation?
QUESTION 2
Should The Football League approach the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to request that rail seating products be licenced in Football League grounds?
QUESTION 3
Should clubs be permitted to accommodate supporters standing in rail seating in The Football League Championship?
QUESTION 4
Should clubs be permitted to revert from seating to standing accommodation in League 1 and League 2 following relegation from The Football League Championship?
It is clear that the greater the change demanded, the more difficult it will be to secure. However through the answers and feedback it should produce a clearer picture to take to policy makers and to make the desired progress, the Football League has asked for feedback from clubs by 24 January 2014.
For background information on Safe Standing provided by the Football League, click HERE.
The Safe Standing Survey will form a fundamental part of Huddersfield Town’s response to the Football League.
Fans need to fill in the survey by Saturday 18 January.
