Sunderland fan welcomes club rethink on safe standing after older supporters raise concerns | OneFootball

A 70-year-old Sunderland supporter has thanked the club after it scaled back safe standing plans for part of the Stadium of Light following feedback from older fans. The change was confirmed on 3 June.

According to Sunderland Echo, ahead of 2024/25 the club installed 2,000 rail seats in the Roker End, then last week outlined an expansion to the Roker End and South West corner covering blocks U40, U15, U16, U17 and U18, with season-ticket holders emailed on Monday 25 May. While rail seating allows sitting, views for seated fans could be blocked by those standing.

The move prompted concern from some older supporters. John Marshall, who sits in U18, said many in his group are in their 60s and 70s and have mobility issues, and that most in U18 usually sit.

After he and others wrote to the club, an email on 2 June said U18 would be reviewed. Rail seating will now go only into the top seven rows, where persistent standing is common, with the lower rows remaining seated. The aim, the club told supporters, is to balance safety with choice.

Marshall thanked the club for listening and said the response showed sensitivity to long-standing supporters. He also pointed to a sense of togetherness from the ownership to head coach Regis Le Bris and the players.

A club spokesperson said the wider rollout for 2026/27 still includes U40, U15, U16 and U17, with U18 adjusted as above. The area will be monitored during the season and future needs kept under review, balancing safety, operations and supporter feedback.

Fanzine A Love Supreme’s Paul Dobson welcomed both the expansion and the accommodation for those who cannot stand. He noted that many younger fans prefer to be on their feet and called the change a sensible compromise.

Source: Sunderland Echo