Posted by Chris on December 22, 2000 at 12:31:48:
Sports minister Kate Hoey is reported to have said said: "I think what we're not prepared to have a re-think on is going back to what it used to be, in terms of huge terraces, very badly controlled and in very bad condition.
"What this is about really is whether it is possible - if the clubs want it and certain supporters want it - to have pilots, perhaps, of safe designed standing areas, very small and very well controlled.
"Because then you would help, I think, the supporters who want to sit all the time and at the moment are fed up with people standing up all the time.
"I was at a match the other week where most people stood for most of the time, even though it was sitting, and that's not very safe.
"I've got quite an open mind on how we would move forward on this. What I want to do is get everyone to look at this.
"Talk to the clubs, talk to supporters and see if the new technology and the new changes might mean that at some stage in the future it might be possible, in a very carefully designed pilot, to see if this was possible."
Despite this, others such as the Premier League spokesman and other Government officials have refused to even consider this so far. I say good on you Kate Hoey, I have a lot of respect for what you have done. Lets hope it happens.