This is an open letter that I have sent to Angela Watkinson, MP for Upminster and Hornchurch. I encourage supporters to send similar letters to their Member of Parliament to voice your support for Safe Standing to be introduced to the Olympic Stadium. Feel free to use this letter as a template or a base, and change it accordingly adding any other comments you may have! This is of particular importance at the moment as the Football League are set to begin lobbying the Government over the issue. Let’s get the support of the people who matter!
________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Angela,
I am a member of your constituency, having lived in Hornchurch all my life. I am writing to draw your attention to the issue of safe standing at football matches. As I am sure you are aware, West Ham United have recently agreed plans to move into the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. The football club is a huge part of many people’s lives in Hornchurch, Upminster and the surrounding area, so I feel this is a very relevant issue.
My reason for writing is that under current legislation, football clubs in the Premier League are forbidden to introduce safe standing at football games. However, many fans feel that there is realistic scope to change this. Most notably, safe standing has been introduced in the top league in Germany to great effect. The impact it has had on clubs has been huge. In particular, ticket prices have been reduced, and atmospheres in stadiums have dramatically improved, and importantly, at no expense of safety and security. The issue is particularly relevant at the moment as Bristol City have, this week, become the first club to introduce safe standing at their stadium, and the Football League have now committed to begin lobbying the government to look at changing current legislation. As a result of this, I am hoping to gain your support on the issue.
Every notable survey that has been carried out on the topic has shown that fans are overwhelmingly in support of having the option of whether to stand or sit at football games. For example, one report carried out by the Football Supporters Federation last year showed that 97% of fans were in support. While this is an issue that is relevant for fans from all over the country, I feel it is particularly relevant to West Ham fans for two reasons. Firstly, as we are moving to a new stadium, we have the scope to introduce safe standing when the new stands are implemented, and more important, vice-chairman David Gold has given his backing to the idea on numerous occasions. As well as this, around 5,000 West Ham fans (of which I am one) currently stand at every home game in areas that are designed for seating. This is a result of an overwhelming rejection of current regulation that forbids standing. In short, the current legislation does not work, and in fact, standing in areas designed for seating is far more dangerous than standing in areas designed for standing.
I am unsure if you are aware of the proposition suggested by lobbying groups campaigning for Safe Standing, so I have attached some relevant documents that may be of interest. The most important point to take out of them is that safe standing would not be a move backwards into the 1980’s where hooliganism was rife in football and when 96 people lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster. These issues were not caused by standing – poor policing and overcrowding at matches were to blame, and both of these issues are, and will remain to be, well regulated if safe standing was introduced into football grounds.
I’ll finish by re-emphasising the degree to which so many fans are in favour of this idea. I know I speak on behalf of thousands of West Ham fans when I say that it would be incredible to have an area of the Olympic Stadium where supporters can choose to stand in, in the knowledge that they are perfectly safe. It would set an example to, and be the envy of, hundreds of thousands of fans all cross the country. But without the help of politicians, this could never materialise.
I hope I can count on your support and understanding on the issue, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Sincerely,
Tom Kilbey.
To get involved, or to voice your campaign for the issue of safe standing, please leave a comment below, or follow @tom29whu on twitter.
Well put but sadly pointless as they will not sanction spending any more taxpayer’s money on converting the OS
Would have a better chance if we were staying at the BG and building a new East Stand
I’m in full support of safe standing at the Olympic Stadium. I’m a long time West Ham supporter who used to stand in the East Terrace in the 1980’s. The safe, shallow terrace was the best point of the Boleyn to watch football from. If football grounds back then had consisted of tiers of about ten to twelve steps, thus making the chance of crushing highly unlikely we wouldn’t’ve lost the atmosphere in our stadia that we have over the past 20-odd years.
A good idea IF the seats are suitable for events, in this case that has to be a factor as the stadium will be used for things other than football.
Agree completely with Tom Kilbey. The old chicken run was the best, not too many issues there, ever.Give the game back to the supporters and you might even see the prices go down, but don’t hold your breath.
Not sure about this one. Even less sure that the so called safe standing seats would be a success or be suitable if the stadium was to be used for other events off season. All seater stadia have dragged the game into the modern era. They have made it safer to watch football, more friendly to more fans and encouraged more families and women to matches. However all of this has come at a price. Eye watering high prices have priced many traditional fans out of attending, the atmosphere has also changed and peoples from all walks of life can now not attend. Hopefully more seats, better travel links and fairer ticketing policies will help solve come of these problems in the OS! COYI!