'Eyes of the world on Shrewsbury Town' for launch of safe standing zone
The launch of English football's first safe standing section will have the "eyes of the world" on Shrewsbury Town, according to the club's chief executive.
Brian Caldwell was speaking as the club prepares to kick off its season by hosting Bradford City at the Montgomery Waters Meadow this weekend.
The game will mark the competitive debut for not only the club's new manager, John Askey, but also 555 'rail seats' in the ground's Salop Leisure South Stand, which allow fans to stand and cheer the side on.
The seats were put in after £65,000 was raised through a ground-breaking Shrewsbury Supporters Parliament led fundraiser.
Mr Caldwell has paid tribute to the efforts of the club's supporters parliament in getting the seating funded and installed, and said it could lead to big changes in English football.
The chief executive admitted some nerves ahead of Saturday's 3pm kick-off, but said that everyone associated with the club is pleased with the way it has gone.
He said: "I think you are always a bit nervous about something that is the first time.
"I think we are all really proud of what we have achieved. There has been a lot of long hours and a lot of planning between us all to make sure we get this right and obviously the good thing is a lot of supporters contributed to it.
"We obviously put money in ourselves, the £20,000, but you know what, it is a fan-led initiative. It was something the supporters wanted to see."
Influence
Mr Caldwell said that the success of the new seating would have an influence on decisions over whether other clubs look to bring in similar standing sections.
He said: "We backed it and it is really important we got it right, the eyes of the world are watching and especially in English football. I do personally believe that they can have all the debates in Parliament as they want but my belief is the government is watching how Shrewsbury Town pilot safe standing before they take a view of rolling safe standing out to other clubs.
"I think they are aware of what we are doing here and no disrespect to our club but I think they are watching us at our level doing it before they roll it our to bigger clubs and seeing hopefully how successful it can be. I just hope the supporters get behind it."
Mr Caldwell said he hoped the new section would also provide vocal and colourful support, which could serve to inspire the players.
He said: "We have sold 200-odd season tickets holders in there. We want to make sure that those who do want to stand at football go there because that is what it is for – to provide safety, a safer environment for people who want to stand.
"We are working closely with the guys in the supporters parliament again. We have ordered banners and we are looking at how to make it as colourful an area as possible and somewhere the young children, in the family stand for example want to aspire to go to next.
"To go round the corner and be part of the safe standing area which will successfully create a better atmosphere as well which is a knock-on effect and a win-win situation because hopefully from a motivational point of view it will work with the players too."
