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Newcastle allowed to keep away fans in the gods at St James' Park as league aim to move visitors to pitchside level
Newcastle United have won their first Premier League battle without kicking a ball — after they were told they would be allowed to keep away fans up in the gods at St James' Park.
Under new rules set to come in the coming season, top-flight clubs must locate visiting supporters at pitchside level.
League and TV bosses believe such placement leads to a better atmosphere and a better product on the screen.
However, Toon chiefs said that safety issues made such a shift at their home impossible — and Sportsmail understands that the Premier League have now granted them a year's dispensation.
League bosses declined to comment but they are expected to work with the newly-promoted club over the course of the season with a view to making the change next term.
Away fans at St James' currently have to climb 14 flights of stairs to get to their spot in the Leazes End.
With promotion from the Championship on the cards, Newcastle officials spoke to the Premier League about potential issues. The key problem was that moving away fans down to pitchside would make it difficult to segregate rival supporters at certain exits.
The north east club, who also declined to comment, commissioned independent experts who confirmed that, with the notice period given, there was no viable and safe alternative.
They presented a strong argument to the league who have now decided to give them 12 months' grace.
A costly relocation in a year's time may well be the only resolution.
Premier League chief Richard Scudamore explained the reasoning behind the policy when it was announced earlier this year.
'It's about atmosphere,' he said. 'One of the unique things about our game, particularly in England, is the amount of away fans and the noise they create. When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans.'
Sportsmail also understands that Manchester United will also not be forced to move away supporters. Visitors to Old Trafford are currently located above pitch level but are in the first row of general admission seats behind a disabled enclosure, which is soon to be expanded.
- New Premier League rules mean clubs must have away fans at pitchside level
- Newcastle argued safety issues made such a shift at St James' Park impossible
- Premier League have given them special dispensation to delay move for a year
- Manchester United will also not be forced to move supporters straight away
Newcastle United have won their first Premier League battle without kicking a ball — after they were told they would be allowed to keep away fans up in the gods at St James' Park.
Under new rules set to come in the coming season, top-flight clubs must locate visiting supporters at pitchside level.
League and TV bosses believe such placement leads to a better atmosphere and a better product on the screen.
However, Toon chiefs said that safety issues made such a shift at their home impossible — and Sportsmail understands that the Premier League have now granted them a year's dispensation.
League bosses declined to comment but they are expected to work with the newly-promoted club over the course of the season with a view to making the change next term.
Away fans at St James' currently have to climb 14 flights of stairs to get to their spot in the Leazes End.
With promotion from the Championship on the cards, Newcastle officials spoke to the Premier League about potential issues. The key problem was that moving away fans down to pitchside would make it difficult to segregate rival supporters at certain exits.
The north east club, who also declined to comment, commissioned independent experts who confirmed that, with the notice period given, there was no viable and safe alternative.
They presented a strong argument to the league who have now decided to give them 12 months' grace.
A costly relocation in a year's time may well be the only resolution.
Premier League chief Richard Scudamore explained the reasoning behind the policy when it was announced earlier this year.
'It's about atmosphere,' he said. 'One of the unique things about our game, particularly in England, is the amount of away fans and the noise they create. When an away goal is scored, you want that atmosphere and interaction between the two sets of fans.'
Sportsmail also understands that Manchester United will also not be forced to move away supporters. Visitors to Old Trafford are currently located above pitch level but are in the first row of general admission seats behind a disabled enclosure, which is soon to be expanded.
Our away match at Burnley is pencilled in for 23rd Dec (or possibly Xmas Eve if chosen for TV), so I could understand Burnley wanting to keep that one at home for the sake of their fans. Would be nice if it switched like this though, it'd give us 3 home fixtures in a row over Xmas - the 23rd, 26th and 30th. Also, police might not allow it, as it would mean both us and Woolwich being at home in the same fixture slot, which is explicitly avoided normally.
That's such BS. Obviously they could easily move away fans to pitch level, they just don't wanna upset their ST holders.
"The north east club, who also declined to comment, commissioned independent experts who confirmed that, with the notice period given, there was no viable and safe alternative." Yes, and I'm sure the fact that NUFC is paying for these consultants to do this study wouldn't affect the conclusions that they'd draw at all...
The three stages of an away fan at St. James,
a) It gets funny,
b) then gets boring,
c) then you need to dial 999 as those around you drop like fly's.
All said and done the view is fucking brilliant, or the City bellow that is. I've also wrong ended before, and the atmosphere is certainly effected here, I've seen Spurs fans sing all game but nor very audible from lower tier.
...and I bet they won't allow hiking sticks through the away end turnstiles either!
Pretty decent spread this year
In total I believe it's actually 19 League games at Wembley along with all 'home' European ties and domestic cup matches.
Well it was aimed at the 5 "home" games after CL fixtures. It's hardly a benefit.
You would prefer 5 games at an away ground? We're playing at Wembley need to get over the fact it's not The Lane.
I think the fixture list looks alright.
Newcastle first game is great. Last game they played was against us but we were a team in a very different situation then. This time we get payback, welcome the cunts back to the Prem.
Then Chelsea, which is nice, we ought to be well motivated.
Newcastle first game is great. Last game they played was against us but we were a team in a very different situation then. This time we get payback, welcome the cunts back to the Prem.
Then Chelsea, which is nice, we ought to be well motivated.
Not happy with opening fixtures. Away again. We are traditionally slow starters and play catch up later in the season. Away to Newcastle who as a promoted side will be full of confidence and then Chelsea as our first opponents at Wembley. Lamela, Rose, Winks and Son could all be still injured for these fixtures and Walker? Not the best time to play these fixtures.
We are at an away ground.
Maybe we should do our best to make it feel like home. Leave some shit in the away changing room toilets, replace the benches they sit on for uncomfortable wooden ones, get rid of the air conditioning and heating.
Otherwise they're coming to the national ground, with world class facilities, ready to raise their game because many of these players won't get to play at Wembley at a high level in their career.