Safe Standing, great, but let’s get it right

790

Delighted for everyone involved in making Celtic the first club in Britain to be given permission to install Safe Standing facilities.  There’s time for a seat but going to the football in Scotland was largely a standing undertaking for a century, for good reason.

Standing enables the creation of football’s now too scarce atmosphere, it allows people to shuffle in the cold and sing with projection.  It’s also safer across more scenarios than sitting.

I have one (significant) problem with the plans……..

Celtic intend to install Safe Standing at the corner of the lower North and Lisbon Lions stands, including the Green Brigade’s area.  The Green Brigade pitched up at this part of the ground one League Cup game several years ago, the area was no more or less appropriate for as a singing section than any other part of the ground.

The North Stand upper is the proper place for a Safe Standing section, front and centre of the stadium.  It’s where the Jungle was, and if we’re going to come anywhere close to recreating the unique atmosphere of the Jungle in a modern stadium, we must select the appropriate area.

The Safe Standing section will have unique properties.  The ability to stand all game, bounce around and generally be more active, will ensure it sells out, but it’s unlikely to attract the infirm, and it will never be part of the family section.  It’s also not going to attract corporate business.

The decision where to locate this section is unlikely to be reversed until there is a major stadium renovation, and that’s likely to be decades away.  A couple of decades out, there will be more demand for family and infirm sections, more demand for corporate and lounge facilities.

Football spent years failing to notice how people grew fond of comfort, shelter, safe and clean facilities.  The trend is not over.  Thousands will want to stand, but perhaps more will want access to lounges, video games for the kids and shops selling all sorts.

Celtic Park is magnificent building of its time but it’s not a 21st century stadium.  The Celtic Way is genuinely stunning, but if we want to cater for fans in the decades to come we’ll need proper cafes, fan zones, bars, better toilets and a museum.  We’ll need to make use of all that land we’ve acquired, but which largely lies undeveloped.

Real estate in the lower stands will be more of a premium in the future, we should plan for it now, make the Safe Standing section the New Jungle.

Sports Direct is not a travel agents – for the avoidance of doubt.

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790 Comments

  1. paisley bhoy on

    I think today is important for sevco because the world will see Ashley’s demands and plans. It might be stage 1 but it will put a spotlight on his thinking.

     

     

    Contents of a Skeleton Argument.

     

     

    Introduction: state what the application is about

     

     

    Time Estimate;

     

     

    Application bundle;

     

     

    Reading List;

     

     

    List of Issues: state the issues to be decided by the Court;

     

     

    Case summary: contain a brief summary of the essential facts of the case;

     

     

    Causes of Action: State the causes of action of the Claimant;

     

     

    The law, which includes: jurisdiction of the Court which the court is being asked to exercise;

     

     

    Submissions: a summary of the arguments which the applicant relies upon to justify the making of the order sought in the draft Order;

     

     

    Response: respond to the likely position of the opponent;

     

     

    Conclusion: re-states what the party wants to the Court to do, which should mirror the introduction.

  2. paisley bhoy on

    His big mikeness wasn’t daft when he contracted with sevco. Having seen how Edinburgh judges ruled on all things sevco, he ensured that the contracts came under English law.

  3. South Of Tunis

     

    08:46 on

     

    11 June, 2015

     

    Scorchio – way down south.

     

     

    Wouldn’ t get too excited about today’s court thing – looks like a skeleton argument presentation – we want to pursue this under this legislation for the following reasons.-.What comes after is what counts.- we’ll see!

     

     

     

    Skeleton arguement. Might it turn up where bodies like the title deeds lie.

  4. paisley bhoy

     

    09:31 on

     

    11 June, 2015

     

    His big mikeness wasn’t daft when he contracted with sevco. Having seen how Edinburgh judges ruled on all things sevco, he ensured that the contracts came under English law.

     

     

     

    MON did the same thing in a case involving SMM.

  5. Mr Pastry at 0645

     

     

    “King & Co have purposely pick a fight with Ashley – they must know that they can’t win.

     

     

    So what is behind this move – is it to force liquidation and blame it on MASH?”

     

     

    This is the most important and perplexing question here… I can’t for the life of me work out what King is playing at.

  6. Ray Winstone's Big Disembodied Heid on

    Re the New Pie’n’Ears and MASH.

     

     

    Suicide is painless

  7. I’ve decided I love that Tom Boyd – Legend

     

     

    And so you all don’t give that Daily Rectum a hit :-) Enjoy

     

     

    Tom Boyd: Celtic don’t care if Rangers are in SPFL – Champions League is far more important

     

    07:43, 11 JUNE 2015

     

    BY ANTHONY HAGGERTY

     

    IF CELTIC can make it through three qualifying rounds into the group stages of the Champions League, they stand to pick up £18million.

     

     

    Celtic Legend Tom Boyd thinks Celtic are right to focus on the Champions League instead of the Old Firm

     

     

    TOM BOYD couldn’t care less that Rangers aren’t in the Premiership because it’s all about Champions League cash for Celtic.

     

     

    Ronny Deila’s men stand to pick up £18million if they make it through three qualifying rounds and into the lucrative group stage in Europe’s top tourney.

     

     

    Earlier this week new chairman Dave King insisted Rangers would be in the position to challenge Celtic for the title within two to three years.

     

     

    But the former Parkhead favourite believes if Celtic can grab the money pot on offer from the Champions League they will accelerate even further away from their Glasgow rivals and it will be a long time before the playing field in Scotland is on an even keel again.

     

     

    Boyd said: “Rangers won’t be able to challenge within the next two or three years. Look at where Celtic are just now and where Rangers are.

     

     

    “There’s a massive gap and it will take a right good few years to bridge that.

     

     

    “Celtic don’t need Rangers, they need the Champions League money at this moment in time.

     

     

    “They certainly need competition, which they got to a degree from Aberdeen last season, but more importantly Celtic need to get in to play against the best teams in Europe and keep the challenge of that alive and hopefully then go beyond the group stages. That is certainly more of an attraction just now than playing Rangers.

     

     

    “With the additional revenue from the Champions League money you can them get better players and I don’t see that over the other side of the city just now.

     

     

    “I don’t see how you can attract better players to the Championship unless you’re doing what you did previously and that is paying them over the odds

     

    “It didn’t work out for Rangers last season so it will need to be a different strategy unless they are buying in lesser- quality players.

     

     

    “My take on it is that it will take a right good few years before Rangers even come close.”

     

     

    With Celtic shunning a pre-season trip abroad in favour of staying at home Boyd is convinced Deila is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation for the Euro qualifiers after the debacle of last season when they exited the competition twice to Legia Warsaw and then Maribor.

     

     

    Despite the loss of Jason Denayer the former Celtic skipper has been impressed they have already replaced the defender with former Manchester City centre- back Dedyrck Boyata.

     

     

    “We let ourselves down in Europe last season and there were a lot of reasons for that but we are in a much better position now than what we were then.

     

     

    Champions League football takes priority, says Tom Boyd

     

    “We had a new manager, which was a huge factor, and there was the amount of travelling we had to do.

     

     

    “The bigger attraction, rather than playing in other countries to get a few quid which Celtic can do, is that the real money is in the Champions League. So you’ve got to prepare and give yourself every opportunity to get there.

     

     

    “If that means staying at home or playing one or two games not too far away – like the game in Spain – then it’s the right thing to do.

     

     

    “Celtic are as strong as they can be for the Champions League qualifiers. The squad is almost there. Boyata looks like he will be a dominant figure in defence and has a good bit of pace.

     

     

    “If he can performs a similar role to that of Denayer he will be a great addition to the team.”

     

     

    While he believes Deila’s squad doesn’t need strengthening too much Boyd reckons they could do with another top striker. Although he also believes this could be the season when Stefan Scepovic finally steps up to the plate.

     

     

    Boyd said: “One of the problems Celtic do have is trying to recruit a striker who is going to score goals in the Champions League.

     

     

    “They might have to bring in a striker who is scoring goals at lesser level then nurture them through and hope they can score at the highest level.

     

     

    “Every team would love to get a striker who grabs 30, 40, 50 goals a season but Celtic wouldn’t be able to afford him.

     

     

    “Hopefully Scepovic can settle down and get into the first team. He would be like a new signing because he didn’t start too often last season.

     

     

    “Leigh Griffiths hit a tremendous run of form towards the end of the season. So I do think Celtic have enough firepower to see them through to the Champions League group stages.”

     

     

    Thank You Tom Boyd,

  8. ItaliaBhoy

     

    09:34 on

     

    11 June, 2015

     

    =================

     

     

    GSL’s court track record isny too hot.

  9. Anyone else wonder if Livingston feel hard done by

     

    Sevco blatantly trading while insolvent and they- livi- get hammered for the slightest transgression

  10. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    I was working in the lab late one night

     

    When my eyes beheld an eerie sight

     

    For my monster from his slab began to rise

     

    And suddenly to my surprise

     

     

    He did the mash

     

    He did the monster mash

     

    The monster mash

     

    It was a graveyard smash

     

    He did the mash

     

    It caught on in a flash

     

    He did the mash

     

    He did the monster mash

     

     

    From my laboratory in the castle east

     

    To the master bedroom where the vampires feast

     

    The ghouls all came from their humble abodes

     

    To get a jolt from my electrodes

     

     

    They did the mash

     

    They did the monster mash

     

    The monster mash

     

    It was a graveyard smash

     

    They did the mash

     

    It caught on in a flash

     

    They did the mash

     

    They did the monster mash

     

     

    The zombies were having fun

     

    The party had just begun

     

    The guests included Wolf Man

     

    Dracula and his son

     

     

    The scene was rockin’, all were digging the sounds

     

    Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds

     

    The coffin-bangers were about to arrive

     

    With their vocal group, “The Crypt-Kicker Five”

     

     

    They played the mash

     

    They played the monster mash

     

    The monster mash

     

    It was a graveyard smash

     

    They played the mash

     

    It caught on in a flash

     

    They played the mash

     

    They played the monster mash

     

     

    Out from his coffin, Drac’s voice did ring

     

    Seems he was troubled by just one thing

     

    He opened the lid and shook his fist

     

    And said, “Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?”

     

     

    It’s now the mash

     

    It’s now the monster mash

     

    The monster mash

     

    And it’s a graveyard smash

     

    It’s now the mash

     

    It’s caught on in a flash

     

    It’s now the mash

     

    It’s now the monster mash

     

     

    Now everything’s cool, Drac’s a part of the band

     

    And my monster mash is the hit of the land

     

    For you, the living, this mash was meant too

     

    When you get to my door, tell them only sent you

     

     

    Then you can mash

     

    Then you can monster mash

     

    The monster mash

     

    And do my graveyard smash

     

    Then you can mash

     

    You’ll catch on in a flash

     

    Then you can mash

     

    Then you can monster mash

  11. Cowiebhoy

     

    09:51 on

     

    11 June, 2015

     

    ==================

     

    Spent an evening in the company of Tom at a Supporters club night (I was staying sober (driving) so was asked to ‘look after him’).

     

     

    What a credit to himself and Celtic he is. He talks like the club supporter he is, that’s why he doesn’t get SMSM gigs.

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    The No.13 Shorts

     

    09:09 on

     

    11 June, 2015

     

    You can fool all of ra peepul all of the time, and all of ra peepul all the time, but you can fool all the people all of the time.

     

    ———————————————————————————————————————–And you can`t fool none of the peepel none of the time.

     

     

    I think.

  13. Morning all.

     

     

    Smsm all over today’s court case in London?

     

     

    Whit dae ye mean, naw?!

     

     

    HH!!

  14. James Doleman ‏@jamesdoleman 2m2 minutes ago

     

    now awaiting judge coming into court, no-one, outside the legal teams seems to know what the motion is.

  15. James Doleman ‏@jamesdoleman 1m1 minute ago

     

    Counsel for Sports Direct asks for time to discuss their motion.

     

     

    James Doleman ‏@jamesdoleman 37s37 seconds ago

     

    Sports Direct motion not to be discussed until 11,30

  16. I fully expect McCall to be confirmed as the manager of The Rangers.

     

     

    Warburton and his team would not only be personally expensive, but he would not want to fail with promotion, so for the sake of his own reputation, he would look to bring in players that he knows from down south. He also knows nothing of the Scottish game where The Rangers will be playing.

     

     

    The cost would be prohibitive and so for these reasons, McCall has probably been given the job – all the posturing is merely to ‘talk up’ season ticket sales.

     

     

    McCall will use the Motherwell blueprint to build a team – the reasoning is, if he has achieved Premiership success on a small budget at Fir Park, he should be able to get promotion on an appreciably higher one at Ibrox.

     

     

    Who knows what the outcome will be today, or, tomorrow, but another season in the Championship with the same costs as the last three years, would surely finish them.

  17. Tom Boyd telling it like it is, we’ve moved on champions league more important than the Huns. Top man hh

  18. I don’t know whether this has been raised before – it’s just popped into my otherwise vacant head; what’s the odds of RC Ogilvie joining the board (for one of the companies at least!) of the Govan-based, ethereal football clumpany?

     

     

    It wouldn’t really surprise me if it did happen, to be honest.

  19. MurdochauldandHay & Wee Oscar

     

     

    Ashley is also taking Rangers to the court of session in Edinburgh this morning.

     

     

     

     

    hahahaaa if true that’s the ‘Ringfence” on his cash.

  20. Oh, nearly forgot.

     

     

    Good morning from sunny North East Fife – I hope the weather is as good as this for everyone, well except for that ole South Of Tunis – not only does he taunt us with all his good weather and his current lifestyle, he also has a Zelig-like ability to have been in all the happening places over the last few decades – curse you SoT! (not really)

  21. dharma bam

     

     

    10:54 on 11 June, 2015

     

    I don’t know whether this has been raised before – it’s just popped into my otherwise vacant head; what’s the odds of RC Ogilvie joining the board (for one of the companies at least!) of the Govan-based, ethereal football clumpany?

     

     

    It wouldn’t really surprise me if it did happen, to be honest.

     

     

    ——-

     

     

    personally I’d like to see that happen

     

     

    Accidental transparency. Confirms his hun credentials for all posterity.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  22. Kitalba

     

     

    Apologies I’ve not been on this morning. No there’s no picture or video evidence that I’m aware of from last night.

     

     

    Yes, I know you’d have been there.

  23. Presumably Ashley is arguing that the club/company/thing that is Sevco/The Rangers broke the agreement with MASH by getting rid of his two guaranteed seats on the Board. And presumably he now wants his cash back plus interest, costs, compensation and anything else his QC can can think of.

     

     

    I guess this is what happens when you tangle with a genuine billionaire

  24. This is not a journey – it’s an adventure

     

     

    From the Celtic website – bit cheeky aha

  25. I reckon big Mick has the huns by the Denis Laws and is squeezing. The more the dafties wriggle the sorer it’ll be.

     

     

    Huns have truly taken a knife to a gunfight.

  26. Ray Winstone's Big Disembodied Heid on

    I think we’re all quite ready for another adventure!

     

     

    Bilbo Baggins CSC

  27. Possibly the most ironic, hypocritical news from last night’s meeting was that Kenny MacAskill, arch proponent of the OB Act, has put a motion down in Holyrood (S4M-13446) recognising James Connolly’s role in the 1916 Rising.

     

     

    You couldn’t make it up.

  28. Jamesgang,

     

     

    I like “accidental transparency”!

     

     

    Is it a bit like a boy suggesting a lego packet for his dad as a birthday present?