Canaries' standing policy 'ludicrous'

[Huckerbys right foot]

NORWICH City's efforts to make sure fans do not stand up at home games have been ridiculed by a fans' watchdog and leading soccer pundit.

Former Football Association chief executive Graham Kelly has branded the club "ludicrous" for the way it has put up signs in the away section of Carrow Road.

The signs warn fans that persistent standing will result in reduced allocation for the visiting club.

Mr Kelly pointed out that it is usually Norwich fans in the Barclay end that stand up.

His criticisms of Norwich's policy echo those voiced by the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) who used the club as an example to call for more debate on standing in grounds and for the possible introduction of "safe standing".

The FSF and Mr Kelly point out the apparent hypocrisy in the stewarding of home and away fans at Carrow Road and ask whether Norwich would reduce the allocation to their own fans when they stand up.

Writing in his column in the Independent newspaper, Mr Kelly singled out Norwich's policy of telling city fans in the Barclay stand to sit down lead to a "pointless job creation scheme for the stewards".

"The stewards start from the front and work back persuading supporters to sit down. Every so often a chant goes up: 'Stand up if you're top of the league' and everyone stands up, forcing the stewards to return to the front row and start all over again. They never reach within 10 rows of the back, where fans stand throughout."

Steven Powell, development officer for the FSF, said: "The Norwich example is one of many that has been picked up and that we have been made aware of, which might be solved by giving people the option to sit or stand."

At its second annual fans' parliament next month in Walsall, the FSF is to give the first public viewing of a new, safe standing design.

The concept has a row of seating attached to a barrier at chest height rather than at the usual low level.

The barrier prevents fans from falling backwards or forwards and he or she steps into the seat as if it was a barstool, so the supporter does not have to stand up every few minutes to allow people to get by to the toilets or to get refreshments.

When the fan stands up to cheer he or she is likely to be a similar height to the person next to them.

Safety officials from Norwich have been invited to see the new design, as have match day commanders from Norfolk police.

The issue of standing at Carrow Road has been raised before. In January, the club said parts of the ground could be closed if fans persisted in standing during matches, after it received warnings from the Football Licensing Authority and Norfolk County Council's Safety of Sports Grounds Advisory Group.

Problems with fans standing throughout games have been experienced at several clubs.

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council threatened to shut sections of Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium because of persistent standing by fans.


KELLY FUCK OFF WE DO WHAT WE LIKE IN OUR GROUND NOW GO SORT OTHER BIG MAJOR PROBELMS OUT