Safe Standing - Fan led consultation - online link - post #43

[Louzie0]

Well done so far and the best of luck with the next stage. You are really making this happen, good on you!

[pbavfckuwait]

Well done Amfy keep up the good work

[amfy]

Frankmosswasmyuncle & I got another 86 fans surveyed in The Lions Club at the weekend.
I think we could have got more but we couldn't quite keep track of who we'd already asked, & everyone was really really chatty! It was different though - on family fun day & in The Holte Suite the conversation was all about how it was in the old days, with me steering it in the direction of how it would be different now. In The Lion's club it was lots of questions about how it would work, and how it would develop, people really wanted to debate the issue & have a whole conversation about the logistics! There was some reminiscing too!
It was really pleasant though - we had some great conversations, took it at a steady pace, took in a couple of beers & generally approached it much less frantically than previous weeks.
The online surveys continue to slowly rise so we are back within 7 responses of the magic 1000 mark! The bit of media with Villa next week should tip it over easily, and I might take some surveys with me to Southampton anyway.

[amfy]

Had another meeting with the club this week.

The survey results have been put together in a publishable format and we are still showing over 97% in favour of safe standing.

They took some cheesy photos and are doing a feature in the Evening Mail tomorrow, and on the OS by the end of the week I think. I am a bit worried about the photos tbh.

http://www.blackscarfafc.co.uk/results-of-the-emirates-stadium-atmosphere-survey.html

Interestingly, Arsenal's Supporter's Trust have published their survey on "atmosphere" today, and they have 92% in favour of safe standing, with a survey total of 17,000 - & they only put it online for a fortnight! This shows what a Supporters Trust can achieve when it is fully up & running, & I am looking forward to our Supporters Trust having this kind of reach. (It would make life a lot easier)

I went to a national meeting of Supporters Trusts on Tuesday evening, and talked about what we have been doing at Villa, and there was a lot of enthusiasm in the room. This is good, because we need every set of fans to be taking this out there and doing what we and Arsenal have done - demonstrating that the desire is there for this from the supporters, until it is unignorable. The Supporters Trusts network is the way to take this forward, because unlike other fan groups, they work on common causes rather than rivalries. This is a common cause, that fans up & down the country need to push through together.

The Football Supporters Federation are also putting it out there for us, and looking to get other sets of fans involved. They are doing a feature on what I have done here too, and hoping that my exhortations about how "easy & fun" it was will convince other supporters to give it a go.

[Clampy]

Really pleased to hear this is coming on well and more importantly gaining support from other areas as well.

[eastie]

Really pleased to hear this is coming on well and more importantly gaining support from other areas as well.

Indeed well done , you have worked tirelessly for this Amfy , thanks for the pm by the way - much appreciated .

[Clampy]

Just seen one of the photo's Amfy. It's not that bad.

[amfy]

On the OS now! I am properly famous!

[Exeter 77]

On the OS now! I am properly famous!

And the Birmingham Mail

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/special-report-975-aston-villa-6325483

Thanks for taking this on.

[paul_e]

Congratulations Amfy, the good results and postive press is your rightful reward for the effort you've put in, you should be very proud of this.  It's great that you saw the incident with Brigada in the cup and took a positive step to do the right thing by the club and fans to help stop the need for that in the future.  As I said back in the original thread that led to this, if only Brigada had taken the same proactive steps you have they'd never have been handled as they were.

[oldtimernow]

Well done Amfy.....keep it going!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Congratulations Amfy, the good results and postive press is your rightful reward for the effort you've put in, you should be very proud of this.  It's great that you saw the incident with Brigada in the cup and took a positive step to do the right thing by the club and fans to help stop the need for that in the future.  As I said back in the original thread that led to this, if only Brigada had taken the same proactive steps you have they'd never have been handled as they were.

As you know paul_e, it was the Brigada thing that got to me and made me become more active in supporting amfy in doing the surveys. Whatever the spark, the response from the fans, instigated by amfy and fully supported by the club, has been really positive to be involved in.
Agree with your comments re Brigada, but if it takes a roundabout or two to get there it'll be worth doing.
amfy deserves a medal but I'll get her a pint instead.
Didn't realise I was "a friend" 'til the Mail confirmed it! Only met amfy through this safe standing thing!
Great to see AVFC and its fans taking a lead in something really positive for fans everywhere.
UTV!

[amfy]

Of course you are a friend now! Your name would have been up in lights too if I'd known it by about 2pm this afternoon. Sadly they couldn't put you down as frankmosswasmyuncle!
I prefer pints to medals anyway!

[amfy]

As for Brigada - they have livened up my match days no end since they parked themselves behind us up there in L8. That's why I got so annoyed when they were thrown out, and  remonstrated with stewards on the night. Their will to stand, clashing with the authorities need to make them sit, was the spark for this.

There are lots of ways to skin a cat, and in a way they can all work together.

There is definitely a place for good old civil disobedience alongside more legitimate routes, because lets face it, legal standing is still a long way off. In the meantime Brigada will continue to lead us in getting up and making some noise anyway!

[rob_bridge]

Great Job.