FSF

We realise that this is an emotive subject for some supporters, but hope that any debate can be constructive and factual, and respectful of all views. For more on some of the legalities, myths and facts behind safe standing, please visit our website. The Football Supporters' Federation's campaign for safe standing is reaching a critical point. A number Premier League and Championship clubs have already given their backing to the campaign, including Aston Villa, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Hull City, Peterborough United, as well as the Scottish Premier League, who have approved pilots of safe standing areas in their competition. There is an Early Day Motion (EDM 573) proposed by Roger Godsiff MP calling on the government to allow pilot schemes of safe standing in the Premier League and Championship. We are calling on fans to get involved if they back the idea of safe standing, by completing any or all of the following four steps on our website - http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding/index.php: Step 1 - Sign the FSF's Safe Standing Petition (if you haven’t already) Step 2 - Email your MP to let them know you back safe standing (there is a easy to follow process to do this through our website) Step 3 - Let us know what response you get from your MP via safestanding@fsf.org.uk. Step 4 - Spread the word. Send this page to your mates via email, Facebook, Twitter or whatever other social media you prefer. If you’re involved with a supporters’ organisation, fanzine or website, use your links to promote the campaign. The safe standing campaign is as much about those with a wish to sit as those who wish to stand - standing in seated areas happens every week, forcing those who are either unwilling or unable to stand to either miss the match or be forced to stand. The creation of standing areas would help improve the matchday experience for both types of supporter, and improve the safety of those who stand - it is surely safer to be standing in an area specifically designed for the purpose than to be standing behind seats in an all-seated stand? The campaign is not about a re-introduction of terraces. The campaign is not about 'bringing back' anything. We would insist the requirements laid down in the government's 'Green Guide' are strictly adhered to. To find out more of the facts, see images of the type of safe standing that we are proposing, as well as busting a few 'myths' to do with standing, simply visit our website - http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/safestanding/index.php We believe that fans should have the choice to sit or stand. We believe that the technology is there to allow fans to stand in safety. If you agree with us, please follow the steps above today. Thanks, The FSF

That was largely our mistake - we amended the initial release for the City/United game to include the Bolton/Stoke one, too. In reality they released virtually the same information for each one, just with the names changed. I've amended the opening paragraph on our site now, so it reads a little better.

Courtesy of those lovely folk at the BTP http://tinyurl.com/5wft46n

You might?ve seen last week that the Football Supporters? Federation launched a petition as part of our campaign for the introduction of safe standing areas in the top two divisions in England and Wales. If you have not yet signed the petition, and are in favour of a return to standing, please give us 30 seconds of your time visiting the link below. Also tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell your work colleagues that you don?t really like but who you put up with anyway. Please help us spread the word. http://www.fsf.org.uk/safestanding We know you might think that signing a petition is a bit of a futile gesture, but there is currently a bill going through Parliament which faces its second reading in a little under 3 months time. For the first time the Sports Minister has agreed to look at the evidence on safe standing. We have a short timeframe to gather support and prove that there is a groundswell of opinion behind fans? choice to stand at football in England and Wales. This is the first time the FSF has petitioned on this issue, and within a week nearly 10,000 fans have already added their voices to our campaign. Please add yours today. If you?re sceptical, read on below. http://www.fsf.org.uk/safestanding * If standing is unsafe, why is it allowed in Leagues One and Two? If it is safe in Leagues One and Two, why is it not safe in the top two divisions? We find the idea that safety is dependent upon the quality of football played on the pitch as absolutely absurd * The FSF?s Safe Standing Campaign is not just about those who prefer to stand. By giving supporters the choice, everyone benefits. Those who wish to stand can do so, while those who prefer to sit no longer have to worry about having their view blocked. Every week thousands of fans stand in front of their seats for large parts of the game - attempts by the authorities to end this practice have failed. Fans are standing in ever greater numbers, and we think they should be able to do so in safely designed and managed areas where possible. * The FSF does not propose that the stringent safety standards laid down in the Government?s Green Guide be abolished or weakened in any way, nor are we suggesting that clubs should be forced to provide safe standing areas. Issues around cost and feasibility should be a matter for individual clubs and their fans, not for the government. * Many opponents to standing mistakenly cite Hillsborough as a reason not to allow its introduction. The disaster was not caused by standing, however; the Taylor Report primarily blamed the failure of police control. It did not ban standing, nor claim it was inherently unsafe. If you agree with us that fans should have the choice to sit or stand at football, please add your name to the thousands already in favour of safe standing. Now?s the best chance we?ll have to make a difference. http://www.fsf.org.uk/safestanding

The Football Supporters' Federation is conducting a quick straw poll of fans up and down the country for their views on a couple of issues, including whether they think that players are worth their exhorbitant wages, or whether a wage cap should be introduced. The survey is closing in the next couple of days, so we'd really appreciate if anyone who hasn't filled it in already will give us literally one minute of their time (and not in the Jamie Redknapp sense, but it is actually very, very short; there's only a couple of questions). Just visit: http://tinyurl.com/3ad6lau Anyone who fills it in is automatically entered into a draw to win a copy of Football Manager 2011 for PC/Mac by way of thanks.

The Football Supporters' Federation are conducting a quick straw-poll of fans up and down the country. There's only two questions, and it will only take a minute to fill in. We'd be much obliged if you could. Just follow the link below http://tinyurl.com/3ad6lau For your troubles, everyone who fills it in gets entered into a free draw to win a copy of Football Manager 2011, just because we're that nice. Cheers, FSF

A campaign that started in a small way on Facebook, the brainchild of QPR and Harrow Borough fan James Doe, has really gathered momentum, and we at the FSF are more than happy to lend our backing to a worthy cause. We?ve even managed to get the support of Conference sponsors Blue Square Bet who were keen to get involved, but right now you?re probably asking ?What?s Non League Day?? In short, the Premier League and Championship, like all top divisions across Europe, schedule fixture breaks for international weekends. This previously meant that fans of teams in those leagues could attend their national team?s matches (or watch them on the telly) and not miss any of the action at their club. Now that England will be playing some of their matches (like this week's game against Bulgaria) on Friday evenings, however, most fans have nothing to do the following day. There?s no match to go to, and no England game to watch. The idea was conceived, therefore, to encourage fans whose teams were not playing on Saturday September 4th to get along to their local lower division side instead, and thus the idea of Non League Day was born. Pretty simple, really. http://www.fsf.org.uk/non-league-day We think that given the current financial climate within the game, clubs in the lower reaches can do with all the support they can get. Teams away from the top divisions, particularly further down the pyramid, way past the Conference North and South, often only continue to exist because of hard-working volunteers giving up their own time and energy. We have to stress that the idea behind this isn?t trying to get fans to change their allegiance, somehow convince them that non-league football is purer or more worthy of their support than the upper reaches of the league, and nor is it any sort of protest at ?modern football. It?s just a great opportunity to promote grass roots football to the masses, and remind people that there are small clubs in their neck of the woods that could really do with some support. With tickets and refreshments at a fraction of the cost you?re used to paying, as well as the ability to watch a match while standing, and even the opportunity to swap ends at half time, why not ?adopt? a team for the day? Who knows, you may even enjoy yourself and return from time to time on international breaks, midweek cup fixtures or when you?re not making a long away trip. Blue Square Bet have offered to sweeten the deal with a couple of cracking prizes on offer. Get along to www.fsf.org.uk/non-league-day/ to register your support for Non League Day (including the club you support, and who you?ll be supporting on the 4th September) and be automatically entered into a free draw to win a VIP package for two to the Conference play-off final in May (including pre-match meal, drinks and the best seats in the house), along with ?50 worth of free bets. Two runners-up will also receive a pair of tickets to the final each, and ?25 of free bets. You can?t say fairer than that. Get along to www.nonleagueday.co.uk to find your local fixture this weekend - with more than 500 matches there's bound to be one near you.

The Football Supporters? Federation are running a fantasy football competition for our members this season through the excellent, and free, http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ site (to join the FSF for free, see below), and we?re throwing in a bunch of prizes into the bargain, too; if you?re good enough to win them, that is. If you?ve not played before, simply register at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ and come join us. If you?re already on the site and have picked your team for this coming season, or are planning on doing so, then just add yourself to our league (The FSF League), the code for which is 129744-45449. We will also be running a Football League version, but more on that will come later. Pit your wits against football fans from across the country and be in line for weekly and monthly prizes. The manager of the month each month will nab themselves a free year?s subscription to our excellent (if we do say so ourselves) magazine The Football Supporter. If you doubt your ability for sustained success and feel your chance is more likely to come with a one-off fluke, then don?t worry - the individual with the top score each and every gameweek will win themselves a copy of the magazine too, absolutely gratis. And in case you were wondering, if there is a tie in any week/month then all the players with the top score will win the prize, because we?re just that generous and giving. We?ll also be announcing regular extra prizes throughout the season: loads of football books, fanzines, DVDs or whatever else we can find down the back of the sofa at FSF Towers. Keep in touch with it all through our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thefsf or our website, www.fsf.org.uk. To be eligible to claim your prize you must be a member of the FSF. If you?re already a member then you?re clearly someone of good taste, but if you?re not but then you?ll be pleased to know that that?s absolutely free as well ? all it takes is 30 seconds at www.fsf.org.uk/join giving us your name, the club you support and your email address. Dead simple. And yes, we will be checking ? if you?ve not joined the FSF before the week/month you win, the next person down the list who is a member will get your prize. No ifs, no buts. So get along to The FSF League at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ - code 129744-45449, and test yourselves against the football geniuses of Britain (and one or two FSF members of staff, too).