The Football League recently circulated a document to its member clubs entitled ‘Consultation on Seated and Standing Accommodation at Football League Matches’. This followed the resolution which was passed at the 2013 Chairmen’s Conference to review the issue of the possibility of rail seating in modern English stadia.
Clubs were invited to respond to the following four questions at the end of the detailed document:
1. Should the Football League approach the Minister for Sport to request that the ‘all-seater’ stadia requirement for Championship clubs be reviewed with a view to the re-introduction of standing accommodation?
2. Should the Football League approach the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to request that rail seating products be licenced in Football League grounds?
3. Should clubs be permitted to accommodate supporters standing in rail seating in the Football League Championship?
4. Should clubs be permitted to revert from seating to standing accommodation in League 1 and League 2 following relegation from The Football League Championship?
Exeter City Football Club responded ‘Yes’ to all four questions, a decision which was endorsed by the Board of the Supporters' Trust.