STAND up if you love the Saints!
Southampton Football Club is looking to introduce safe standing at St Mary's, a pre-season letter to season tickets holders has confirmed.
In information released ahead of Saturday's home opener against Leeds United, fans were told 'being able to demonstrate that we are able to operate safely at full capacity will also be vital as we look towards introducing safe standing at St Mary's, something the club will continue to consult with fans about during the course of the season'.
The warning comes amid a backdrop of increased anti-social behaviour at games throughout football last season, the club added.
READ MORE: Saints take action to tackle crowd trouble at St Mary's
READ MORE: Southampton City Council backs safe-standing at Southampton Football Club
But the step forward for safe standing is a victory for former independent city councillor Andrew Pope who has been campaigning on the issue for five years.
He says it would improve the atmosphere and matchday experience for both home and away fans.
Now, he's been contacted by Saints to say they are looking to 'adopt and embrace' safe standing.
In a letter seen by the Daily Echo, Mr Pope was told that Southampton Football Club is working on designs for safe standing within the stadium and will begin consulting fans over the next few weeks.
He said: "I am delighted that after five years of leading the campaign for safe standing that Southampton FC have finally confirmed to me that they will be doing a trial and that I will be consulted on the designs, which I understand are imminent."
The Government recently confirmed that Premier League and Championship clubs wishing to introduce licensed ‘safe standing’ areas at football stadiums were allowed to do so from the start of the 2022/23 season, which got underway on Saturday with a Saints defeat away to Tottenham.
Brentford, Queens Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers will be the first clubs to join ‘early adopters’ Cardiff City, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in offering licensed standing in designated seated areas.
Other clubs are expected to adopt licensed standing areas during the course of the season.
Under licensed standing, fans are allowed to stand for matches in allocated spaces behind a barrier or a rail in areas of persistent standing. Each supporter has to occupy the same area they would take if they were sitting, with a traceable, numbered ticket.
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