Following lengthy consultations with fans groups, local government and the UK Safe Standing campaign, Celtic have announced today that they have received permission from Glasgow City Council to introduce a section of “rail seats” at Parkhead.
The section, which will house up to 2,600 supporters, could be in place as early as the 2016-17 season.
Commonly referred to as “safe-standing”, rail seats are commonplace at football stadia across Germany and elsewhere in Europe, allowing whole sections of supporters to stand in safety whilst watching their team. The seats can then be folded back down to create seating sections in accordance which UEFA regulations for European competition.
The campaign for safe standing in UK football grounds is very much inspired by the Bundesliga model and has been gathering pace over recent years, as Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell recognised in an official statement:
“Rail seating has been in place in European football for some time and there has been considerable demand for some form of safe standing within the UK and particularly from our supporters. We are sure the rail seating section will prove very popular with supporters and we look forward to its introduction.”
A far cry from the dangerous, crumbling terraces of old, rail seating allows seats to be folded up to provide a designated place for each supporter to stand behind a waist-high rail.
The nationwide campaign has faced opposition from certain groups concerned that standing at football matches is dangerous, having allegedly contributed to tragedy in the past.
Modern rail seating however has supporter safety as its primary objective, and represents an undeniable improvement upon standing between rows of shin-high seats with no barrier to prevent fans tumbling down stands.
“The introduction of rail seating at Celtic Park represents an investment in spectator safety," Lawwell continued. “Across football globally, the reality is that some supporters are choosing to stand at matches. This is something we must accept and manage and also understand the positive effect which these areas have on atmosphere at matches.”
Indeed, the massed ranks of German supporters standing behind goals at Bundesliga matches are responsible for a vibrant, noisy, colourful atmosphere which has not only become the envy of fans around the world, but also an integral component of German football’s marketing campaigns.
What’s more, standing places can be sold at more affordable prices to younger supporters – the future of the game. With seats costing upwards of £30 in England, it is no wonder that the average Premier League season ticket holder is 41 years old. The average age of fans on Borussia Dortmund’s much-heralded Südtribüne on the other hand is around 25, paying only €12-14 per game.
With a major UK football club now onside, it is to be hoped that the safe-standing campaign will be rolled out even further in future for the benefit of the fans.