Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury Town pledge £20k to safe-standing bid

Shrewsbury Town have pledged £20,000 in support of the football club's safe-standing bid.

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The figure has moved the Montgomery Waters Meadow club beyond halfway to their £75,000 target as they bid to become the first English club to install safe-standing in an all-seater stadia.

They now sit on £40,000, with £35,000 still to be raised.

The crowd-funding initiative, a brainchild of the club's supporters' parliament, had previously received more than 500 donations amounting to around £20,000.

How the new safe standing will look. Image: @mStadia_net

Parliament chairman Roger Groves explained the club's financial backing is a significant step.

“We still have a long way to go, but the momentum has been steadily increasing and this is obviously a massive boost for us," said Mr Groves.

"We’re really confident we will get there – the awareness is building across the country and we’ve still got plenty of great things to come on the campaign.”

Shrewsbury Town chief executive Brian Caldwell added: "We have taken to the decision to match that amount to help the project pass the 50% mark.

"We’re really excited to be the first club with the chance to have a safe standing area in England or Wales."

If the scheme is successful, around 500 safe-standing places will be installed behind the goal at the Salop Leisure South Stand.

The rail-seats allow fans to stand but also include a fold-down seat should the need arise for the area to be made a seated section for any particular game or event.

The project is being watched closely by football clubs across the country, with many Premier League clubs understood to be interested in installing the rail-seating.