duncfost01
David Wagner Terrier
[M0:1]
Posts: 2,833
|
Post by duncfost01 on May 28, 2024 5:27:06 GMT 1
Kev Nagle was asking for questions for the latest video diary. I posted the question on twitter to Dave Carmichael.
Some responses said 100% yes some bright spark thinks it’s a “shite idea”.
That end creates the most atmosphere but often the away fans are louder. I would stick them in the opposite end of the ground so we can have our own “kop”.
I I know it’s been discussed before, but given that there will probably be less away fans now is the time to do it. Start the process.
Thoughts ?
|
|
uw2ba
Iain Dunn Terrier
Posts: 484
|
Post by uw2ba on May 28, 2024 5:44:34 GMT 1
I think the biggest operational issue in having fans at the other side of the ground is that the coaches car park/entrance from the train station is next to the south stand and the way the ground was built means away fans can quickly be escorted back to their transport/the town center with minimal contact with town fans.
I think if we gave the away fans the brittania rescue corner closest to the south stand though this could work but they would obviously have to block off the tunnel to the rest of the stand.
|
|
|
|
Post by rothwellterrier on May 28, 2024 6:55:00 GMT 1
Away fans are “often louder” because the away team recently has “often been winning”.
|
|
duncfost01
David Wagner Terrier
[M0:1]
Posts: 2,833
|
Post by duncfost01 on May 28, 2024 7:01:10 GMT 1
Surprised so far by the vote. I thought all clubs wanted a home end.
|
|
|
|
Post by Christ in Shades (art) on May 28, 2024 7:01:24 GMT 1
We would never fill it, so it'd be pointless giving it all over to Town fans.
|
|
|
|
Post by Essex Terrier on May 28, 2024 7:17:42 GMT 1
I know it's about semantics, but there is a difference between "like" and "think it's possible" to move the away supporters.
I'd like it to happen, but I can't see a way that it ever will
|
|
duncfost01
David Wagner Terrier
[M0:1]
Posts: 2,833
|
Post by duncfost01 on May 28, 2024 7:24:45 GMT 1
We would have filled it in the prem.
Looks a bit “tinpot “ having the town fans basically in the corner.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockwall on May 28, 2024 7:48:38 GMT 1
I still think logistically away fans should be upper of North Stand.
Coaches park in one of numerous car parks by the cinema.
Upper tier enter by Legends. Lower enter round the back by Kilner Bank.
|
|
|
|
Post by boooothy on May 28, 2024 8:24:52 GMT 1
Logistical nightmare and seems pointless(i don’t see the demand to sit behind the goal) The stadium was built/designed for that to be the away end. It’s a shame it’s so turd behind the other goal, with hindsight i imagine they would have built it very different.
Different point but wasn’t one of the things about the barrier/walkway between home and away fans that it can be moved? That could be utilised more.
Also after a promotion or two in a world of FFP and becoming sustainable it makes zero business sense that we turn away paying away fans. That seems more of a priority to me.
|
|
|
|
Post by joeyjoneslocker on May 28, 2024 8:48:48 GMT 1
I’d just move the barrier in Cowshed that separates the home and away fans respective of away tickets sold.
So v Crawley move the barrier allowing more Town fans, whereas v Brum keep it where it usually is.
But even if we opened it up further, it wouldn’t fill. Not yet anyway.
|
|
ldr
Andy Booth Terrier
Posts: 3,131 
|
Post by ldr on May 28, 2024 9:01:11 GMT 1
I think the biggest operational issue in having fans at the other side of the ground is that the coaches car park/entrance from the train station is next to the south stand and the way the ground was built means away fans can quickly be escorted back to their transport/the town center with minimal contact with town fans. I think if we gave the away fans the brittania rescue corner closest to the south stand though this could work but they would obviously have to block off the tunnel to the rest of the stand. I get the logistical argument but when people talk about safety, I cannot accept that. Fans are let out at the same time and Town fans have to actively cross the away fans at various points creating loads of potential flashpoints. The area by the coaches is always dodgy and invariably kicks off either verbally or physically. |
|
ldr
Andy Booth Terrier
Posts: 3,131
|
Post by ldr on May 28, 2024 9:05:00 GMT 1
We would have filled it in the prem. Looks a bit “tinpot “ having the town fans basically in the corner. What’s the alternative? Have the cowshed in the middle of the south stand with away fans either side? It would be like Rorkes Drift! 😂 |
|
Dan
Andy Booth Terrier
Posts: 3,858
|
Post by Dan on May 28, 2024 9:05:17 GMT 1
I’d just move the barrier in Cowshed that separates the home and away fans respective of away tickets sold. So v Crawley move the barrier allowing more Town fans, whereas v Brum keep it where it usually is. But even if we opened it up further, it wouldn’t fill. Not yet anyway. Exactly this. We've moved the barrier for certain games before. Bournemouth in the prem 1st season springs to mind, the game where Pritchard actually played well. Fairly sure there will have been around 2,500 Town fans in there that day. |
|
ben1987
Mental Health Support Group
Posts: 7,241
|
Post by ben1987 on May 28, 2024 9:11:12 GMT 1
I’d just move the barrier in Cowshed that separates the home and away fans respective of away tickets sold. So v Crawley move the barrier allowing more Town fans, whereas v Brum keep it where it usually is. But even if we opened it up further, it wouldn’t fill. Not yet anyway. Exactly this. We've moved the barrier for certain games before. Bournemouth in the prem 1st season springs to mind, the game where Pritchard actually played well. Fairly sure there will have been around 2,500 Town fans in there that day. We had it moved for an FA cup game v Reading and Southampton in the PL. |
|
Wingman
Mental Health Support Group
Posts: 3,918
|
Post by Wingman on May 28, 2024 9:13:57 GMT 1
It’s a shame the South Stand isn’t two tier also, then the away fans could’ve had the lower tier. Many away days in a lower tier getting showered with beer from on high by home fans.
|
|
|
|
Post by htafcokay on May 28, 2024 9:14:01 GMT 1
Away fans should get the lower tier of the Panasonic.
|
|
ben1987
Mental Health Support Group
Posts: 7,241
|
Post by ben1987 on May 28, 2024 9:14:30 GMT 1
Kev Nagle was asking for questions for the latest video diary. I posted the question on twitter to Dave Carmichael. Some responses said 100% yes some bright spark thinks it’s a “shite idea”. That end creates the most atmosphere but often the away fans are louder. I would stick them in the opposite end of the ground so we can have our own “kop”. I I know it’s been discussed before, but given that there will probably be less away fans now is the time to do it. Start the process. Thoughts ? It’s a completely pointless debate. You’re suggesting that we move away fans to fill it with home fans that aren’t filling the current section we already occupy. Theres no demand for tickets in the stadium , you only have to look at this season just gone and the first time since we’ve had that stand, it’s been noticeably thin, as has the rest of the ground. |
|
|
|
Post by terryya on May 28, 2024 9:22:28 GMT 1
Been done to death over the last 30 years. Away fans are always going to be louder than home. The safety/logistics argument is absolute nonsense. You only have to go to any other ground to see that. However, I think we've got the best outcome at the moment. Away fans and home fans right next to each other, and home fans behind both goals.
|
|
|
|
Post by hd9terrier on May 28, 2024 9:24:53 GMT 1
Yes. Won’t matter as much next year with small away folowings. But why give away teams more than half the south stand behind the goal? Makes it easy for them to takeover. LT shove away fans in the end of the kilner bank, segregate off the car park behind to funnel in away fans. Make the south stand a Kop. It would encourage a mix of town fans. However, the only thing I’d say is there’s needs to be proper concourse facilities…
|
|
|
|
Post by Sio on May 28, 2024 9:26:23 GMT 1
Been done to death over the last 30 years. Away fans are always going to be louder than home. The safety/logistics argument is absolute nonsense. You only have to go to any other ground to see that. However, I think we've got the best outcome at the moment. Away fans and home fans right next to each other, and home fans behind both goals. Eh? Almost never the case when we're doing OK, or occasionally even well. Last couple of years yes. Previously, no. |
|
|
|
Post by Big Ern on May 28, 2024 9:27:53 GMT 1
Fill the corners in!
|
|
|
|
Post by detox on May 28, 2024 9:35:26 GMT 1
Can't be any worse fan conflict than there is now at the end of a game.
Put the coaches behind North stand, put fans in lower tier and shut off exit at north end of britannia stand . End of game there's no fan clash.
We're hardly going to fill our ground next season anyway so south stand can be tired out for a season.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sio on May 28, 2024 9:35:30 GMT 1
On this debate, I'd probably have been an advocate for it a few years ago but I actually quite like our current setup. Much as I don't like to admit it, the proximity to the away fans does actually benefit the atmosphere, and I quite like our home section being penned in.
In a few years if / when we are back on the up, I'd possibly restart the discussion. Right now, not necessary.
|
|
|
|
Post by terryya on May 28, 2024 9:45:52 GMT 1
Been done to death over the last 30 years. Away fans are always going to be louder than home. The safety/logistics argument is absolute nonsense. You only have to go to any other ground to see that. However, I think we've got the best outcome at the moment. Away fans and home fans right next to each other, and home fans behind both goals. Eh? Almost never the case when we're doing OK, or occasionally even well. Last couple of years yes. Previously, no. Not just at Town, but away fans do tend to make more noise. I think it's just the fact that you get a higher % of people contributing to the atmosphere and probably higher blood/alcohol levels. We had a spine tingling period of time for a number of years from 2016 onwards but other than that, away fans tend to make more noise |
|
htfcterry
Andy Booth Terrier
[M0:2]htfcterry
Posts: 3,874
|
Post by htfcterry on May 28, 2024 9:51:49 GMT 1
Away fans should get the lower tier of the Panasonic. I've said this for years. They could easily make away fans walk to Leeds road and up into the town centre from there after the game. |
|
|
|
Post by Sio on May 28, 2024 9:54:19 GMT 1
Eh? Almost never the case when we're doing OK, or occasionally even well. Last couple of years yes. Previously, no. Not just at Town, but away fans do tend to make more noise. I think it's just the fact that you get a higher % of people contributing to the atmosphere and probably higher blood/alcohol levels. We had a spine tingling period of time for a number of years from 2016 onwards but other than that, away fans tend to make more noise Yeah totally agree in theory, I just don't think it plays out like that all that often at Town. Most home grounds don't have a dedicated section especially next to the away section. |
|
|
|
Post by The King's Head 1230 on May 28, 2024 9:55:05 GMT 1
Not this old chestnut again. Pointless even bringing this up.
|
|
|
|
Post by htafcokay on May 28, 2024 9:56:46 GMT 1
Away fans should get the lower tier of the Panasonic. I've said this for years. They could easily make away fans walk to Leeds road and up into the town centre from there after the game. Always been of the opinion that away fans should get the worst part of the ground, in any ground. |
|
|
|
Post by Ginger Ogre on May 28, 2024 10:15:53 GMT 1
As many have said, at the moment its a pointless debate as there isn't enough demand within the stadium to make it worthwhile.
It’s something that has been debated to death on here, and with the club on multiple occasions by various fan groups and splitting the South Stand has come out as being the best option to please all parties.
There is also a lot more to consider than simply HTFC deciding on the where the away fans sit. There is all sorts of red tape involved. For example
- The minimum ticket allocation that Huddersfield Town has to offer away clubs in line with Football League regulation 34.2.1 is 2,000 or 10% of the capacity; whichever figure is lower.
- The Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975, item 3.26, states that "away fans must have access to their own segregated set of toilet and concourse facilities".
- The current John Smith’s Stadium safety certificate stipulates that away fans enter and leave the site via the south end of the ground.
If the South Stand was an area for home fans alone, it would necessitate compliance with all of the above. The Club would have to ensure it meets the above and then put in a proposal to the Stadium’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) to do so. If the SAG agreed, the Safety Certificate will then be changed.
As above, this is something that has been discussed with the club on many occasions. For those of you who may now have seen it before, below are the options that have been considered before and reasons as to why they are not feasible back in 2014.
RIVERSIDE STAND
As things stand, no toilet and concourse facilities exist in this stand that could be segregated as per The Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975, item 3.26; there is access from the Upper Tier seating to the Lower Tier and vice versa, which would contravene The Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975, item 3.26 in terms of housing away fans. In the current setup, this stand is NOT an option for away fans.
On 21 October 1998, Sunderland FC was given dispensation to bring additional away fans to sit in the Direct Golf UK Stand. In practise this did not work and was not considered for a repeat.
In theory this stand could be modified to comply with this regulation, but this would require rebuilding work. This would need permission from Kirklees Stadium Development Limited (KSDL) and money to fund it.
NORTH STAND
The John Smith’s Stadium was designed to have away fans in the Chadwick Lawrence Stand, which is why that stand has a purpose-built coach park behind it – to allow for the direct and safe arrival and departure of travelling fans. This minimises interaction and crossover with home fans going in different directions.
As things stand, space for a coach park does not exist behind the Fantastic Media Stand – the weight limit on the bridge over to the Town Avenue car park does not permit a coach to travel over it – so it is NOT an option currently.
In theory this could again be changed, but this would require coach parking at the North End. This would need planning permission, permission from the other partners on site, the SAG and then KSDL, as well as cash to fund it.
KILNER BANK – BLOCKS 7, 8, 9 & 10
The Kilner Bank was the original location for away fans in 1994 for a short period before the South Stand was completed.
The south end of the Britannia Rescue Stand complies with all three necessities for away fans at the John Smith’s Stadium detailed above regarding capacity, segregation requirement and access.
- Capacity; with away fans in the South end, the Britannia Rescue Stand would house approximately 3,779 home fans and 2,554 away fans, with a 1,000 (one entire block (6)) segregation requested by the SAG. In the 2013/14 campaign, there were 4,562 Huddersfield Town Season Card holders in the Britannia Rescue Stand, meaning that a permanent move for away fans into this stand will mean displacing a large number of home fans; around 3,000 currently sit in the south end of the Britannia Rescue Stand, a large proportion of which have sat in that area since the John Smith’s Stadium was built.
Allocating such a large chunk of the BR would inevitably mean displacing a substantial number of Town fans who have been settled in that area, probably since the stadium was built
- The south end of the stand can be segregated via the blue central concourse doors, giving away fans access to their own set of concourse facilities including toilets.
- The away supporters would still exit via the south end of the ground as they currently do, allowing access to the existing coach park.
Of all the options this is, in theory, the one with the fewest issues, although it would be the most emotive and still very challenging to even try.
CLUB CONCLUSION
Moving away fans permanently to allow home fans to sit in the Chadwick Lawrence Stand presents very significant problems under all the options in terms of logistics, safety and management and could have a significant impact and challenges to the long-term development of site.
The explanation above has not taken the full array of financial implications into account, which would of course also have a further bearing on the decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by terryya on May 28, 2024 11:04:40 GMT 1
Whilst I agree with the current set up, most of the above is nonsense, written in an official way so people don't question it. It's mainly a list of excuses to keep the status quo and was churned out so often by thy club that it became accepted as fact.
For example, parking coaches at the other side of the ground! They don't need to go over the bridge. They can either park on the ground side or enter the main part of the car park direct from Bradley Mills Road.
|
|
