Petition to move the away fans back to the SE Corner

Sheepy · Post by **Sheepy** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:59 am

I am hoping the good members of this forum will be able to help me out and sign a petition to get the away fans back in the SE Corner of Elland Road.

Not only does it completely spoil the atmosphere, but I feel this is a disaster waiting to happen.

I have witnessed many a problem, such as when the Leeds fans cross the path of the away fans leaving the West Stand back to the coaches there has been friction, pushing and shoving and the usual name calling. How long will it before a fight breaks out or some innocent person is caught up in a scuffle?

Then we have had the times the West Stand walkway (back up to Elland Road) has been blocked while the away fans have left the stadium back to their coaches. This has meant elderly and disabled supporters have had to wait around for the walkway to be re-opened (so they can return to their vehicles - the disabled supporters car park is next to where the away coaches are now parked).

Fans are expected to wait in all weathers - gale force winds, rain, snow - you name it.

The alternative is for fans to walk all the way around the ground (along the kop, up the East Stand etc) or across the Fullerton Park car park which is dark, muddy, full of pot holes and hazardous. This is hardly the best thing to expect a elderly or disabled fan to have to do.

The previous location of away fans in the South East corner was perfect in terms of atmosphere, safety and ease of exit for the away fans.

This is totally a case of 'if its not broke, why fix it?'

I am fed up with it, I have contacted the club who have assured me they are monitoring the situation. I can't just sit back without doing anything so I have created an online petition so the club can see how many fans are just as unhappy with this current policy.

If you agree, please take the time to sign the petition by clicking the link below:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/retu ... ast-corner

Thanks for your time

Sheepy (of LUFCTALK).

Post by **1964white** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:41 am

Apparently we have board who are listening to the fans now

Good idea

Wolfetoneleeds · Post by **Wolfetoneleeds** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:20 pm

The only problem is you can't fit 3000 in the corner......
Good idea but means alot if the south stand will be taken up aswell

markolufc · Post by **markolufc** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:24 pm

The other alternative is to hold away fans in while home fans disperse. I don't know why so much special care is taken to accommodate away fans, no wonder we've lost our fortress Elland Road in recent years, it's pathetic.

Dr.Leeds · Post by **Dr.Leeds** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:28 pm

It's difficult. Certainly pushing a wheelchair all the way around the back of the Gelderd end through the crush by the North East ticket office, having to steer against the flow up Lowfields wasn't a lot of fun on Wednesday night. However, once we got up to Billy, where the away fans used to stream out, and along Elland Road things were a lot easier than they have been in the past. There is a lot of sense in having the away fans come straight out of the West Stand and straight to the coaches.

It does feel weird having the away fans in the West though...

eastyorkshirewhite · Post by **eastyorkshirewhite** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:43 pm

markolufc wrote:The other alternative is to hold away fans in while home fans disperse. I don't know why so much special care is taken to accommodate away fans, no wonder we've lost our fortress Elland Road in recent years, it's pathetic.

As an away fan who goes to all the away games i agree with your quote we get kept in at away grounds not the home fans.

markolufc · Post by **markolufc** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:44 pm

it sums up bates destruction of everything that is Leeds United that away fans appear to be treated with more respect and welcoming than home fans.

Drs.Dad · Post by **Drs.Dad** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:58 pm

It seems to me, as an ambulent disabled supporter with a wife who is a wheelchair user, that the current system is untenable. The most disadvantaged supporters are being forced to literally put themselves in danger at the end of matches now. I can see why the club has changed the away fans location, it gets them in and out of games with far less chance of a hooligan problem, and in general I am all for it. The way I see it, there are three things the club could do. The first is the only one which is free, and that is to hold the away fans for 15-20 minutes after the game, I cannot see why they aren't doing this. The second would be at the clubs expense, and that would be to put a footbridge from the away supporters coach park straight into the West Stand away supporters area, it would have to be high enough for coaches to get under it. The third would be at the cost of the owners of Fullerton Car Park (it isn't the club, it's the Council!) and that would be to tarmac the car park to allow easy crossing of the car park from the path which runs from the North West corner past the top of Fullerton and into the other car parks.
Obviously the first is the easiest to accomplish, and should be done straight away, it's an absolute nightmare pushing a wheelchair around the stadium. fans leaving never look down when they see a gap and it's amazing how many times fans step straight in front of the chair. It's never their fault, of course!