Should The English Premier League Bring Back Football Terraces?
Everton’s victory in the Carling Cup at West Ham in December was memorable for me for a variety of reasons, the way the player’s performed, the magnitude of the actual victory and the actions of the Everton faithful throughout. For the whole game, the Evertonian end stood, this was reflected through the electric atmosphere. This forced me to ponder my thoughts, should terracing be re-introduced?
Now I wasn’t even born when the Hillsborough disaster occurred and I would not like to disrespect those who suffered such a tragic death. However I hear my family, my father and uncles in the main talk of how they miss the terraces and the atmosphere that came with it. Experiencing that at West Ham only a while ago was a pleasure, I genuinely got a feel for the affection towards it.
Experiencing it has only strengthened my view; safe standing should be reintroduced for a number of reasons. It works in Europe, most notably Germany so why does the government appear to persist with the phobia that comes along with the idea? I recognise there have been horrific incidents; however I know enough to suggest this was merely down to poor safety rather than the actual terracing itself. Those who will argue; what if it happens again? The way health and safety is at the present it would be almost impossible for there to be a catastrophic re-occurrence.
People who go to music concerts are allowed to stand during that, so why should football fans not be allowed to stand at a football match?
There are stadiums in Europe (Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena for example) that can switch between seating and terracing, which is an interesting prospect and one I feel many would relish. There has been no sign of health risks or accidents in Germany, why can’t we mirror our system on theirs?
The re-introduction of terraced areas would go a long way to handing the game back to the proper supporters – offering affordable, atmospheric areas to modern-day stadia. It’s about time that the powers that be realised that this is what the fans want and brought safe standing areas into football grounds across the country, it will get the stadiums rocking, that’s for sure.
The Bundesliga may not consist of the best teams, but it certainly has the best atmospheres and you want to know why? A mixture of old and young folk packing the stadias with average crowds around 44,000, it’s affordable as well and appeals to varying generations.
Clubs and football associations have to realise that as fans we are customers, what happened to the customer’s always right? We deserve choices. Yes Hillsborough was a disaster and I’d pray we will never return to such unenlightened times but for the government and authorities to not even debate or consider it is ignorance beyond belief. We as fans want it as recent polls have testified.
Many label the Premier League as the ‘best in the world’. Don’t let football turn into a night at the opera, save the atmosphere, bring back terracing.
What do you think? Should football terraces be reinstated (with appropriate safety measures)?
I would love to see some terracing back, even just a band all round the pitch, say a quarter of the stand depth. The Hillsborough disaster was caused by a vast standing area. It would improve the atmosphere, get people singing and increase the attendences at some games and every week at Old Trafford!
I guess the spanner in the works is that it’s hard for the camera operators to keep track of the hooligans in terraces.
Maybe, but I dont think anyone would even consider this at a time when the FA is debating whether to take the game to foreign lands. The clubs’ loyal local supporters have taken a backseat, its the international audience thats bringing more cast nowadays……………
I live 2 mins away from hillsborough it was tragic but storys i hear about what it was like on terraces there were fantastic to bad i’ll never experiance it.
I fully agree with the article. Terraces are the way forwards. The fences which contributed to the Hillsborough disaster are no longer around. If necessary design the standing areas so access is from the side rather than “back fed” to stop the crush forward when people are trying to get into the ground.
Great piece, Joe. Well written and I agree with your sentiments. It’ll make it easier to take my kids the game, that’s for sure. Terraces = cheaper prices.
I loved standing on the terraces and I enjoy doing so now when I go to watch Salisbury City in the Conference. There is no doubt that the atmosphere is so much better when terracing is involved.
My only fear is that it is quite a while now since Hillsborough and other tragedies. It is quite a while since we witnessed the fighting on the terraces. Anyone who remembers those days, who didn’t want to fight, will remember them as very dark days when football in England nearly died a death.
My heart says, yes, please bring back the terraces. I’m not entirely sure that my head agrees.
Totally agree with the article. My heart AND head says bring back the terraces. Joe is right in saying people are allowed to stand at music concerts. Safe standing areas should be a priority
Terracing works if you strictly limit the amount of people there and leave ample room for all. Underfill the area if you have to as a point to make safety of the fans the first priority.
I never got to esperience the “old” kop for myself. Now that im old enough its a bit quiet at anfield in premier league games (apart from games agaisnt Man U, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea). i dont know if that has anything to do with Liverpools poor form in the premiership or what but i watch videos of the old kop and it looks amazing but i dont think we will ever re-introduce terraces.
there’s a good chance that we’ll never go back to terraces in England, precisely because England footballing authorities tend to bend over backwards to uphold traditions, and since ‘abolishing terraces’ has become the ‘traditional’ way to do things now, they won’t bring em back.
Hope I’m wrong though, if safe standing terraces are introduced it will bring something back to the atmosphere of the game.
It will never happen because you pay more for a seat.
“It will never happen because you pay more for a seat”
but you think that you would get higher attendances if cheaper seating was available, and the capacity would probably be higher. If there was terracing you would probably find that a stadium would fill up more because of a better atmosphere too.
Holy schnikes, Joe! You were born after 15 April 1989? Man, you’re a youngin.
Anyway, I’ll respond on this in due time, but I have to get to work. Be back soon!
–Eric
i would love to see a return to safe standing terracing…. english football grounds today are becoming increasingly soulless when you compare them to the atmosphere’s generated by the 70’s and 80’s crowds… for those who think a reintroduction to terraces would be a step backwards, they are wrong because with new technology and policeing then safe standing terracing can work
i agree that terraces should be back at the top level of english football, i go to lower league matches at Posh and the atmosphere is better there than at any Premership game i’ve ever bin to. Even in rugby the have safe standing areas in this country.
I never experienced terracing. The closest I have come is small stands at Yeovil and Rovers away, but it was still better than seating. When it was all standing in the former home end due to seats with no backs that was enjoyable and a much better atmosphere than the other stands.
In short, no to old school terracing, but YES to safe standing.
Todays football in all seater grounds lacks atmosphere.
Thats why I follow Tamworth FC, terraces and you can mix with opposing fans !!
Paying my money, I want to stand next to people I enjoy having a banter with.
UK Football and this country needs to change its way of thinking FAST – most of my friends are emigrating because you can’t do this and can’t do that- it might offend someone.
It’s no wonder we have the worst quality of life in all the EU Countries.
I’m finding this topic fascinating in light of the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough. It does seem that limited experimentation with safe standing terraces is worthwhile. After all, even the Taylor report said that standing areas weren’t inherently unsafe. In any case, something needs to be done to make football more affordable to the people who really love it.
terracing is bare good