FSM Industry News
Kilmarnock set to become first club with safe-standing section for youngsters
Kilmarnock are set to become the first British club to install a safe-standing section for under- 16s and, in another UK first, the new rail seats will be entirely funded by their fans. The seats, which can be
flipped up and locked in place to create room to stand behind a waist-high safety rail, will be fitted at Rugby Park in mid-September. Paid for by the supporters’ trust, there
will be 158 rail seats for adults in the East Stand and 166 for youngsters in the Family Stand, making Killie the second Scottish team after Celtic to create a Bundesliga- style safe-standing area. Jim Thomson, the Chairman of the
Kilmarnock Supporters Trust explained that the decision to install rail seats is part of an overall wider push to get more youngsters to attend games and improve the atmosphere
the Scottish Premiership and fill Rugby Park more regularly. “We had more than 12,000
within the stadium on match days. The rail seats will cost about £40,000 but
the trust has also managed to raise enough money to build wheelchair platforms to give disabled fans a much better viewing experience at Rugby Park. Set up in 2003, this is the trust’s second
major investment in the club after raising £100,000 to buy shares to put a supporter- elected representative on the board last year. With former Labour MP Cathy Jamieson
in place, Thomson said the trust’s next priority was to build on the excitement of last season’s campaign, which saw the East Ayrshire side pip Aberdeen to third place in
Rail seating introduced at Molineux
Wolves are ready for the new season with the installation of new special rail seats. New pictures inside Molineux show the
new seats in place, with Wolves returning to action earlier than usual this year due to their qualification for the Europa League. Safe standing is currently not permitted
in the top two tiers of English football but Wolves will be the first club to install these rail seats in an existing stadium with Tottenham’s new stadium being built with a similar solution. Managing director Laurie Dalrymple
said on the club website: “It is important to stress that these will not be safe-
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standing areas, and we will continue to have a management plan in place to ensure compliance with the government’s all-seater policy. The Sports Ground Safety Authority will be closely monitoring Molineux and particularly any new seating arrangements to ensure our continued compliance with the licence conditions. “Of course, Tottenham Hotspur’s new
stadium was built with a similar solution already installed, but Wolves will become the first club to install rail seating in an existing stadium, and I think that is something we should be very proud of.” Shrewsbury Town and Celtic have already
incorporated similar examples of rail seats into their stadiums as their leagues allow safe standing. Wolves’ plan has been approved by the
local safety advisory group as well as Sports Grounds Safety Authority.
fans in for the last game of the season against Rangers and the atmosphere was incredible but our average gate is more like
8,000 – better than it was not long ago but still too many empty seats,” said Thomson. “So we’re trying to develop the Family
Stand, which we used to give over to Old Firm fans but have now reclaimed. “We think putting rail seats in there so the
older kids can stand with their mates, but still in sight of their parents, will be a really social thing for them. It will also hopefully encourage them to keep coming as they get older.” Kilmarnock’s reward for finishing third –
their best finish since 1966 – is a place in next season’s Europa League.
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