Newcastle United will trial safe standing at St James' Park from the start of the 2023/24 campaign. A designated standing section will be installed in the South East Corner of St James' Park and will have space for approximately 1,800 home supporters.
The move was welcomed by Newcastle fans when announced on Monday with more communication from the club expected in due course. Newcastle have urged fans not to contact the box office until further information is released.
Here is everything you need to know regarding the safe standing decision.
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What is being trialled?
Approximately 1,800 Newcastle supporters will be allowed to safely stand in the south-east corner of the stadium, between the Gallowgate End and East Stand. It means that for the first time since 1995 fans will be able to stand in a designated section at St James' Park.
Safe standing was banned after 97 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough Stadium back in 1994. In recent years, English clubs have been allowed to trial the return of safe standing.
Away fans too?
Newcastle unveiled plans to replace around 600 seats at the front of the away section with rail seating in 2022. Away supporters were not permitted to stand until St. James' Park is given the green light for licensed standing.
However, the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) advised that the upper section of the Leazes End would benefit from having the added infrastructure in place as a priority. A section of visiting fans will be allowed to stand from the start of next season.
How did the decision come about?
Newcastle undertook a 'supporter consultation process', with more than 4,000 fans taking part in an online survey and 70 fans attending a working group session at St. James' Park to provide more detailed feedback.
75 per cent were in favour of standing being introduced - with the South East Corner and Gallowgate End identified as the preferred location by more than 70 per cent of supporters.
Have other teams tried it?
Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Wolves, and Brentford have recently introduced safe standing at their stadiums after Spurs became the first English team to trial it at their new stadium.
Wembley Stadium also introduced a designated standing section in 2022 after a Government manifesto commitment. Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said at the time: "We want to make the experience of watching football as magical as the play on the pitch.
"Fans will now be able to cheer on their team from a seat or join others in a safe standing section to really get behind the players and roar on their heroes to victory. We are not reintroducing terraces and only clubs which meet strict safety criteria will be permitted. Thanks to a robust trial, thorough evidence and modern engineering, we are now ready to allow standing once again in our grounds."
Will it work?
Demand for railed seating has intensified in recent years with a wealth of supporters championing the return of safe standing. The SGSA allowed the use of rail seats from 2018 and all recent trials around clubs in England have proven successful.
UEFA last summer confirmed that it had approved the use of safe standing in European competitions for the upcoming 2022-23 season. England, France and Germany were the countries selected to trial the measure.
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