Question The North Bank and your thoughts?

[kentblues]

I don't think supporters are allowed to be standing these days, though (unless an official safe-standing area with specific seats). The powers that be may turn a blind eye, because it's incredibly difficult to make 500 or so people sit down, but I don't think you could advertise it as such

Correct. Until a large 18st, 6 foot plus lump like me trips over the seat in front falling on others causing serious injury. Then the club will be taken to the cleaners. Not helped by the small legroom in the seated areas making it particularly unsafe..

Another reason why the club should be installing safe standing as a priority

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I don't think supporters are allowed to be standing these days, though (unless an official safe-standing area with specific seats). The powers that be may turn a blind eye, because it's incredibly difficult to make 500 or so people sit down, but I don't think you could advertise it as such

Not sure what the NL rules are on standing, but 20 of the 24 clubs have standing 'terraces' (that dates me) and no specific seats.
Might it be a radical thought to return our new part of the North Bank to standing only at a cheaper price?
There are still many who prefer to watch on two legs.
FWIW, was never than enamoured with the Bank - even as a 60s member of the Pak.
We all went in there to make a noise, but the view was never that good especially when staring to the other end on a misty February evening.
Durst it be said, but South Stand Upper is current best view in the ground.

 

[kentblues]

Not sure what the NL rules are on standing, but 20 of the 24 clubs have standing 'terraces' (that dates me) and no specific seats.
Might it be a radical thought to return our new part of the North Bank to standing only at a cheaper price?
There are still many who prefer to watch on two legs.
FWIW, was never than enamoured with the Bank - even as a 60s member of the Pak.
We all went in there to make a noise, but the view was never that good especially when staring to the other end on a misty February evening.
Durst it be said, but South Stand Upper is current best view in the ground.

Nothing to do with the NL

Licensed standing - SGSA

Licensed, safe standing allows fans to stand at some grounds subject to the all-seater policy, as long as certain criteria are met.

sgsa.org.uk

Licensed safe standing in seated areas is possible but the areas need to be designed to meet certain criteria. None of our seated areas I would suggest even begin to come close. Certainly I have seen nothing to suggest we have a licensed seating area.

I’m not an expert in this area- it maybe somehow we are exempt (unlikely) or maybe the rules have changed again? @Sherif H is the man on stadia- I guess he will know..

 

[tsbl2000]

I'm bringing the grandsons up from deepest Sussex for the Sittingbourne game on Saturday. Were in the North Bank (I'm trying to relive my youth!). Can anyone tell me which turnstile entrance we should use? Is it the old Fairfax Drive turnstiles? thanks in advance.

 

[Cricko]

I'm bringing the grandsons up from deepest Sussex for the Sittingbourne game on Saturday. Were in the North Bank (I'm trying to relive my youth!). Can anyone tell me which turnstile entrance we should use? Is it the old Fairfax Drive turnstiles? thanks in advance.

Yes.

 

[tsbl2000]

Yes.

Thanks. I'll be 15 again going through that turnstile!

 

[Smiffy]

Bottom line, until the North Bank is returned to terracing (or safe-standing) and the whole end is given back to home fans. It will never be a proper "Home end".

If there is money in the COSU budget to achieve that, that's when they will see a big uptake and huge increase in atmosphere. Until then, it's going to be half hearted at best. Unless of course we are going for the title...

 

[Cricko]

Thanks. I'll be 15 again going through hat turnstile!

I am not sure you have to specifically wear a hat.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

It needs to be done properly, start of next season.

Not many people can be bothered to ring up/email/visit the ticket office to transfer a season card from W block or wherever else in the ground to the NB, on a game by game basis. It's just not going to happen midway through a bang average season when everyone is set where they are.

Sell season cards in the NB next season, market it properly, no silly charges or needing to swap game by game. Most of all, make it the cheapest place to sit at Roots Hall, for season cards and match ticket prices. In an ideal world we would have the whole NB as well. Having half of it doesn't feel right and doesn't feel like a "home end"

Yes. £18 for the north bank and get the away fans in the south lower.

 

[Supershrimper]

Was the east stand car park still sectioned off for segregation of fans (all 9 of them)?

They have chosen a start point for that at the point of a cut through meaning that people walking up the hill have to walk up another 100 yards and then back again. Not ideal for the older folk. So this should be better thought through for next season too. Allow for a fork as we enter the car park.

Yes it was segregated off from the North bank to the bottom of the car park leading out to the remnants of the last of the shops. Was a right pain having to walk up to the club shop to then come back down the car park to enter the East at the bottom.

Really don't understand why it has to be segregated. Is it a case of if fans collide on the street and start giving it some then its not the clubs responsibility, whereas collide in the car park and its down to the club?

 

[Smiffy]

Yes it was segregated off from the North bank to the bottom of the car park leading out to the remnants of the last of the shops. Was a right pain having to walk up to the club shop to then come back down the car park to enter the East at the bottom.

Really don't understand why it has to be segregated. Is it a case of if fans collide on the street and start giving it some then its not the clubs responsibility, whereas collide in the car park and its down to the club?

It's ridiculous.

All solved by putting the away fans in the NW corner (Y & Z blocks and X if a large turnout) and them coming in the Fairfax drive entrance.

We get the whole North Bank up to the west end corner flag and enter from the East stand end.

Yes it will require some works, but it's the only way it works until COSU find the funds to implement safe-standing or knock it down for a Barnet type seated end.

Sharing it with away fans, having to walk round to Fairfax Drive, having to switch game by game and paying full price just won't capture the imagination I'm afraid.

I'm hoping as a minimum COSU can manage to put the (average) 80-100 away fans in the NW corner (Or anywhere but the North Bank) for next season. Plus make the tickets (season and match-day) a lot cheaper than everywhere else in the ground. It will prove far more popular if they at least do that.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Nothing to do with the NL

Licensed standing - SGSA

Licensed, safe standing allows fans to stand at some grounds subject to the all-seater policy, as long as certain criteria are met.

sgsa.org.uk

Licensed safe standing in seated areas is possible but the areas need to be designed to meet certain criteria. None of our seated areas I would suggest even begin to come close. Certainly I have seen nothing to suggest we have a licensed seating area.

I’m not an expert in this area- it maybe somehow we are exempt (unlikely) or maybe the rules have changed again? @Sherrif is the man on stadia- I guess he will know..

I think we're talking different things.
Licensed safe standing with seats is one thing: primarily safe standing another, surely?
If not, why are 20 clubs allowed to have standing areas?

 

[kentblues]

I think we're talking different things.
Licensed safe standing with seats is one thing: primarily safe standing another, surely?
If not, why are 24 clubs allowed to have standing areas?

Safe standing where there are NO seats is easy (obviously)
If there are seats then it’s needs to meet criteria
Most NL clubs aren’t all seater so of course standing not an issue. To the extent that some NL clubs are all seater they may have licensed safe seating areas? I suspect the 4 without standing areas are in fact the all seater stadiums of bigger (historically) clubs who haven’t installed safe standing in any of their seated areas- we would be one of them…

 

[bazzashrimper]

Yes it was segregated off from the North bank to the bottom of the car park leading out to the remnants of the last of the shops. Was a right pain having to walk up to the club shop to then come back down the car park to enter the East at the bottom.

Really don't understand why it has to be segregated. Is it a case of if fans collide on the street and start giving it some then its not the clubs responsibility, whereas collide in the car park and its down to the club?

Vs Barnet there were about 10 stewards making sure someone didn’t jump the gate. If that’s the case vs 9 fan fylde they have a better personal security set up than Ron Martin.

 

[tsbl2000]

I am not sure you have to specifically wear a hat.

Oops (now corrected the typo). I've always worn a hat to games. My mum used to knit my bobble hats in the day. Now I need one to keep my bald head warm!

 

[united we stand]

Do we need a TBV organised transfer over there for a game?. Get the singing section over there en masse.
Just a thought. Pick a future game and make it a thing.

As a generalisation people are sheep and us supporters are no different.We won’t make a decision unless we have to. Some people want to ‘ try it’ but don’t want to be in a stand with no one else in it, don’t know/can’t be bothered/ don’t have time to change ticket, think they will be charged a fee etc.

Potential Solution


Club Announces ‘Northbank day’ for a particular match and promotes it through all its outlets.
Show some videos of the NB from the past (ie 3.0 vs Bristol rovers all goals scored attacking NB with Stan scoring 2-probably better examples but you get the idea)
Club has flyers on all seats in W on the previous game with the same info as on website and the blocks in NB for ‘ TBV’-

‘We ask that next game you take your seats in the north bank.’
Unallocated standing
Your existing ticket gets entry
The drum will be there (I spoke to Dan on this last night).
Offer one free drink if the club thinks it will help.

If the club wants more than just W to move then make the offer to the stadium - first come first served, making it clear which parts were standing, which seating. If by some miracle the NB was ‘sold out’ the stewards can simply ask people arriving to go to their normal seat in east/west/south


There has to be either a huge incentive for people to move or they need to (in the nicest possible way) to be asked move.
The way the current experiment is being run is simply not going to work.

If people have to change ticket they are less likely to do it
If they think the people around them won’t move they won’t move
If they think it will be empty they won’t move
If they think there is a fee they won’t move

Do this for one game and then see how it goes and make plans from there.

 

[kaymac]

I think we're talking different things.
Licensed safe standing with seats is one thing: primarily safe standing another, surely?
If not, why are 20 clubs allowed to have standing areas?

May just be that they are typical of most non-league grounds which tend to be predominantly terraced / hard standing…

 

[PIERS]

It's ridiculous.

All solved by putting the away fans in the NW corner (Y & Z blocks and X if a large turnout) and them coming in the Fairfax drive entrance.

We get the whole North Bank up to the west end corner flag and enter from the East stand end.

Yes it will require some works, but it's the only way it works until COSU find the funds to implement safe-standing or knock it down for a Barnet type seated end.

Sharing it with away fans, having to walk round to Fairfax Drive, having to switch game by game and paying full price just won't capture the imagination I'm afraid.

I'm hoping as a minimum COSU can manage to put the (average) 80-100 away fans in the NW corner (Or anywhere but the North Bank) for next season. Plus make the tickets (season and match-day) a lot cheaper than everywhere else in the ground. It will prove far more popular if they at least do that.

This is spot on. And take all the seats out and return it to a terrace with the required crush barriers.

 

[40yearsafan]

This is spot on. And take all the seats out and return it to a terrace with the required crush barriers.

Maybe I'm just getting old but this the only way I'd consider going back to the North Bank. After the experience of being seated for the Southport match, I'm happy to be back in the South Upper. Glad I tried it but it didn't live up to the old memories.

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

Thanks. I'll be 15 again going through that turnstile!

"GO TOM GO" you know you want to he's here, he's there he's every F****** where Billy Best.