EASTLEY

I agree that they should be looked at again as there were a lot of contributory factors to the awful disaster in Sheffield. The legislation is a blanket rule book that was just as much about getting rid of violence at grounds as spectator safety, however there have been no major disasters at grounds in the UK since implimentation. I was in this case though just pointing out the legislation the club is governed by. They could pull some seats out etc but then would have to replace them if we gain promotion which would seem short sighted and costly at this stage.

Lots of debate about this so I thought I'd copy and paste the definitive from the Football Licensing Authority - These are the rules that the club/stewards are asking us to abide by. BP is all seater so the rules apply. The important piece of this is that rules 9 and 18 are the key components of the regulations to be incorporated by each individual club: Standing in Seated Areas Last Updated: 01-Nov-2007 3:22 PM Email Us Home > Publications > FLA Publications > Standing in Seated Areas Standing in Seated Areas At Football Grounds August 2002 Football Licensing Authority in association with; Football Association, FA Premier League, Football League National Association of Disabled Supporters Football Safety Officers' Association Core Cities Group - Safety of Sports Grounds and Public Events Working Group District Surveyors' Association Department for Culture, Media and Sport Association of Chief Police Officers Introduction and background In this paper we examine the nature and causes of spectators standing in seated areas at Premier and Football League grounds. We conclude that this is unacceptable from the point of view not merely of the clubs and the authorities but also for many spectators. We identify various possible measures to tackle this matter and indicate who should be responsible in each case. The Government recently reaffirmed its policy that all clubs in the Premiership and First Division should provide seated accommodation only with effect from 1 August 1994 or, if later, from three years after their promotion into the First Division. Grounds that have become all seated should remain so even if the club is subsequently relegated. The Government's policy should be understood in the context of Lord Justice Taylor's Report into the Hillsborough Disaster of April 1989, in particular the following key extracts, which remain equally valid and pertinent today: It is not enough to aim only at the minimum measures for safety. (Paragraph 59) There is no panacea which will achieve total safety and cure all problems of behaviour and crowd control. But I am satisfied that seating does more to achieve those objectives than any other single measure. (Paragraph 61) It is obvious that sitting for the duration of the match is more comfortable than standing. It is also safer. When a spectator is seated he has his own small piece of territory in which he can feel reasonably secure. He will not be in close physical contact with those around him. He will not be jostled or moved about by swaying or surging. Small, infirm or elderly men and women as well as young children are not buffeted, smothered or un-sighted by large and more robust people, as on the terraces. The seated spectator is not subject to pressure of numbers behind, nor around, him during the match. He will not be painfully bent double over a crush barrier. Those monitoring numbers will know exactly how many there are without having to count them in, or assess the density by, visual impression. There will still, of course, be scope for crowd pressure on standing whilst entering and, especially, when leaving but involuntary and uncontrolled crowd movements occasioned by incidents at the game are effectively eliminated. (Paragraph 62) It is true that at moments of excitement seated spectators do, and may be expected to, move from their seats. But the moment passes and they sit down again. (Paragraph 64) The Government's policy that Premiership and First Division grounds should be all seated in the public interest is enforced by means of conditions in the licence issued by the Football Licensing Authority under the Football Spectators Act 1989. These provide that: only seated accommodation shall be provided for spectators at a designated football match; and spectators shall only be admitted to watch a designated football match from seated accommodation. Each Premiership and Football League ground has its own ground regulations based upon the model ground regulations recommended by the Premier and Football Leagues. Rules 9 and 18 of the model regulations provide that: [b]9. Nobody may stand in any seated area whilst play is in progress. Persistent standing in seated areas while play is in progress is strictly forbidden and may result in ejection from the ground. 18. The club reserves absolutely the right to eject from the ground any person failing to comply with any of the ground regulations or whose presence within the ground is, or could reasonably be construed as, constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to any other person. This could lead to further action by the club including, but not limited to, the withdrawal of any season ticket (without reimbursement)and other benefits. 18.1 Entry to the ground shall constitute acceptance of the ground regulations. [/b]

allot finishes with aplomb

Spot on - the stewards just want a quiet life

It was a penalty though not intentional handball he deflected it against his own hand - however there were two blatant shouts before this for us where the defender stuck his hand out to meet the ball where the ref and linesman were the only people in the ground not to see it

There is no standing area - the entertainment license depends on it - old trafford has the same issue as does eastlands, wembley etc. BP is no exception. Whether you agree with it or not persistent standing is not allowed due to safety regulations at all seater stadia. Its not whether you want to or not - if you do it expect to be thrown out - simple really. If you want the club to make a standing area then create a viable business case and submit it to Alan Hardy etc and I am sure he will look at it review and then probably dismiss it as all Premiership and Championship grounds are all seater. As the aim is to get into these leagues they are unlikely to start taking out seats. Just to set the record straight I prefer to stand and always though the Taylor report was flawed and was more about stopping football violence in grounds rather than safety - However those are the rules and unless you want games played behind closed doors the choice come and support you team from the seats standing at particular times but not for a length of time. If you carry on aggravating the stewards in a battle you can't win as they are backed by the police etc then chances are you'll get kicked out - the rules are simple and are not about to be changed for a few disgruntled punters at BP who to be honest look like gobby guys who want to take the piss(That was the view from a number of people around me)

Lets not be too hasty its a long season - am sure maher and lee will get plenty of football this year Maher would start in most sides and gives us more options and strength in depth as does Lee

Not so sure you have this bit right LL? The vindication that swayed those against it was that the England team would benefit after the reduction to 18 clubs as they were expected to progress further in the cup competitions and Europe. This was in the days before rotation, pre-season world tours and the champions league

I'm not sure where I stand on this one - Wimbledon council(Merton? LL You'll know this) repeatedly refused to allow Wimbledon to either purchase a new ground or develop Plough Lane to allow the club to have a home. They were pernnial nomads, tenants at Selhurst with no ground prospects so viewing our frustration with Oldham council I can understand the decision to move the club. There may have been no club with the financial situation at Wimbledon. Is moving Nort to MK any worse than moving South to Croydon as it's still not Wimbledon or even in the same borough. AFC Wimbledon have done well but how far they can go when ground development issues arise as they move up through the leagues? As for MK its not a horrible town and its surrounding countryside is as nice rurally as most places in the UK, the biggest issue in my mind is whether the club or town could just inherit a football club or whether they should have been positioned in the pyramid and earned the right to play in the FL not whether they should exist? Any thoughts?

If we're gonna give a bit of verbal we have to be prepared to accept that maybe someone else will retaliate, its the way of the world. Shotton did what he did but did have the good grace to applaud us at the end I think acknowledging it was just banter. Peanuts - I'll remember to be less demonstrative next time I play tho - you'll have to tell the youngsters it was the victory signal

Gary Hoolickin

Again - the reason is that each police force and local council that has the autonomy to enforce or not the ruling and revoke the entertainment license - its not enforced by central government

whether you agree or not persistent standing could get the ground closed temporarily or permanently. Personally I agree that it is a complete over reaction but unfortunately the council/police have the power to abuse/use it depending on your point of view. Similar to the supposed anti-terrorism law that is now being flouted up and down this snooper nation. Frustrating but not the clubs fault

Either Elf and safety ie the council and police will not grant the entertainmnet license for football to be held at BP unless the club acts as it is asked to do so. The no standing rule has upset fans at lots of different clubs but hasn't been changed since Hillsborough. Unfortunately this is the restriction imposed on professional league clubs that have stands with seats in them. Some councils/police forces choose not to enforce this strictly, it appears ours do. If you don't like it, write to your councillor and police representatives stating your point of view but get off the club's back it is powerless to stop this. However over zealous stewarding it can do something about, but again get the details of the individual involved and put in a complaint to the club if it is justified.

I think Gregan is more a Bentley Arnage - big, and powerful,has a presence and gets through whereas Stam is more of a Porsche 911 great fun, a bit posey and subject to oil leaks, dodgy electrics and if its a C2 will cause you an issue on most journeys(handling dodgier than Jon Keeley)

I'm from Denton originally, so it was a straight choice between 'tics and city. My Dad who is from Oxford originally started taking me to BP because it was easy to park. That was 33 years ago and we are both still season ticket holders though don't get to many midweek games tbh. In terms of small crowds, i honestly believe that the town doesn't support its club as much as it could in a general sense. The split community doesn't help nor does the current economic situation nor the proximity of premier league teams and football availability on sky. The cost of football is now far higher than it was in the late 80s early 90s when we last had regular decent crowds and Oldham is not a city club with a sleeping fanbase. However with some good offers and a team winning it has been prooved before that you can get people into BP but the downside is that they then don't stay once the prices go back up. However if we are still at the top and playing good football by oct/nov then I think the crowds will start to rise as they did in the "pinch me season." We have been here before

Brilliant "Said Joey Barton's defence lawyer" - Hopefully you are right, the point is he's been a muppet probably knows it but I wouldn't want the guy to be booed by our own fans next time he pulls on a shirt just because too much is being said. He was getting some grief on against Millwall and last season as well in the Ford Stand(NSM or whatever)and wouldn't want this to be na excuse for that to escalate thats all

Yes - sorry I completely ignored the facebook thing as its irrelevant and probably not him anyway, but the point is more than valid

I'm with you on this one Chaddy, has anyone on here ever played because if you have you will realise that sometimes the adrenalin takes over unfortunatley and pushes some people across the line of acceptable behaviour. I'm not condoning what he did because it was stupid(as he probably accepts himself in the cold light of day btw). It has cost him but he can't change it so its how he reacts to it that is more important. Lets get off his back and support him - as I'm sure we'll all be cheering when he's scoring again KTF

Summed up in one sentence - he doesn't have to be the most agile, he has the experience to do the basics very well and when he produces good full length stops as he tends and distributes the ball with the accuracy he does we have one of the best all round keepers in the division. It's not all about brilliant reflex saves - 90% of the job is doing the basics such as getting your angles right which again he does very well Lucky to have him me thinks am sure Fleming will benefit to

Andy Holden

Not his best game - but nothing any keeper could have done for the first - 2nd depends if there was a call or not and 3rd he shouldve got over the bar - however wasn't a liability and asking for him to be dropped is just pure nonsense!!! Fleming however will get his chance at some stage, but to be on Crossley's back for making 1 or 2 mistakes in 90 mins is pretty questionable???

Hi All, I'm based out of Warwick so am available for lifts as well, though they tend to be early starts if OWTB FC are playing. Feel free to get in touch tho - that goes for all Mids and Southern 'tics Cheers Rob