One of the Members Of Parliament for Southampton has confirmed that he will back safe standing in the debate in Parliament.

Royston Smith the Conservative MP for Southampton Itchen has come out in support of safe standing at football grounds.

The plans to bring safe standing back to top-flight English football stadia will be debated by the government today, which could pave the way for Saints to introduce it at St Mary’s.

The Football Supporters Federation have been at the forefront of the campaign and they have been joined by MPs, campaigners, and fans, including member for Southampton Itchen Royston Smith, who have been piling pressure on Westminster to allow the installation of safe-standing ‘seats’.

These would allow fans to support their team by standing during matches. However, standing in English football’s top two divisions was outlawed by the Football Spectators’ Act in 1989, following recommendations made in the Taylor Report on the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans.

The last terraced area at Southampton was knocked down in the summer of 1994 and replaced by an all seated stand at the Milton Road end of the ground, the third structure at that end of the ground in a little over a dozen years, although the first to feature seats.

The Tory MP said.

“I am in favour of safe standing — the operative word being ‘safe’,”

“There are other places that already do it and it can be done safely.

“But bringing it back doesn’t mean forgetting about the past.

“Currently, at St Mary’s fans in the Northam section stand every game, and no one ever gets hurt.

“However, that is not the safest way of standing in this sense, so if it was made safe then that is only a good thing.

“But if we want to see how standing in a safe way already works, we just need to look at the Northern stand.”

The debate in Parliament comes after more than 100,000 people backed a safe standing petition.

The issue was also debated by Southampton city councillors who agreed that council leader Chris Hammond would write to the “appropriate authorities” to discuss how it can be taken further.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 18:30 - Jun 25 One can hope that those terrible memory of Hillsborough tragedy is something that no-one wil forget, but it has been estabished that that awful tragedy was the result of a number of critical unforseen factors that happened just on the day of a key match. However, much has been written since and the idea of "safe standing" can surely not be neglected any longer. I've seen no suggestion that the whole ground should be open to standing, but perhaps one end would be ideal, and as a someone who spent much of their supporting days at The Dell (under the West Stand) I can't help but reflect that there was more atmosphere in the crowd - if you are able to move a bit, and not remain static all the time. Nowadays, I am grateful to have the chance to sit my tired body down and watch games from a seated position, but I still recall the enjoyment and cameraderie amongst my fellow fans and not just those seated around me. I am sure that the stewards are much better organised than they were 30-40 years ago, and could control all eventualities and conform to Health and Safety requirements. I hope for the sake of those who long for the "freedom "of standing to watch games will benefit from a sensible solution to this long-standing question.

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undertoomers added 19:36 - Jun 25 Most annoyed. This is the 2nd time you've used this picture with an article. This isn't Saints supporter's!, Your showing United supporter's who have taken the Milton! I can give the exact dates if asked, but it would be either the 73/74 season or 76/77 season. I can think of another occasion, but that was winter time (not a sunny day) during the 1970/71 season (lost 2-5) I thought I erased all memory of these occasions, but its all come flooding back.

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Ali_Diarea added 19:40 - Jun 25 Does anyone know what the board’s position is on safe standing? Presumably it would be at the discretion of each PL team IF approved?
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highfield49 added 08:26 - Jun 26 Anyone got a workable solution to the selfish individuals who will demand the "right" to stand in other parts of the ground? These arrogant and often abusive idiots don't give a toss about the likes of underweststand and myself who actually want to sit at the game and not have their view blocked by the inconsiderate. I shouldn't have to ask people to sit down and I shouldn't have to tolerate unpleasant behaviour for doing so. Tougher stewarding is the obvious answer but I can sympathise with them having to intervene on a frequent basis. Is there actually something wrong in wanting to enjoy a match without aggravation?

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landerwal added 12:44 - Jun 26 Though I prefer sitting myself, I fully agree there should be some safe standing. Times have changed since the Taylor Report. Then, one could only watch a match live by being at the ground in person, hence the thousands of Liverpool supporters without tickets who descended on Hillsborough in the hope of getting in. Now every semi final can be viewed at home, in the pub, mobile etc. There is far better stewardship of games now plus CCTV. There are also no fences cutting off escape routes onto the pitch. The present legislation actually puts fans at risk because if thousands of fans want to stand they will stand and there is little stewards can do to prevent them. Witness Saints and away supporters in the Northam Stand every home game standing in an area not designed for standing. Unfortunately, there are few votes to be gained for changing the present legislation, so I don't see this government allowing the bill through into law.

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halftimeorange added 13:29 - Jun 26 The diehards who go to away games universally stand irrespective of pleas by either fellow fans or officials. This indifference actually dissuades supporters who want or need to sit from following Saints outside of St Marys. I am fortunate to sit in a premium seat in the Kingsland but rarely does a game pass by without someone nearby being told to sit down and accompanied by the occasional confrontation. If one pays to and prefers to sit down that's the way it should be and I believe there is a fair chance that standing in unauthorised areas will break out around the ground if the law is changed. If change is made so instant ejection and a hefty fine should accompany it.

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