Hillsborough families to meet fans' group over safe standing
Relatives of those who died at Hillsborough are to meet with Spirit of Shankly, as calls grow for safe standing to return.
Last updated 18th Jul 2017
Hillsborough relatives will meet with Liverpool supporters group Spirit of Shankly tonight, to discuss the possible return of safe standing.
Many families of the victims who died in 1989 remain opposed to the return of standing - in the form of rail seating - after the disaster.
But there's growing calls for it to make a return to football, and Shrewsbury and Northampton have both expressed their desire to trial it in the Football League.
Tonight, relatives will hold a private meeting with fans group Spirit of Shankly - and discuss their concerns.
Some members of the group have already voiced their support for safe standing to return - including Roy Bentham. He says:
"The people that I'm speaking to right across the board - football supporters groups across the country - they're doing surveys left right and centre, and there's a big groundswell now for safe standing. I think it's coming.
"Obviously I go to Liverpool away games and you generally find the atmosphere is better - for one reason or another, you generally do find that. You tend to be standing more, singing, it's fairly common knowledge that that is already happening.
"I'm personally of the opinion that we should have safe standing - we regularly stand home and away already in all honesty. In a safer format, I would welcome that entirely."
It's a highly emotive issue on Merseyside and Spirit of Shankly are keen to hold the meeting with Hillsborough relatives to get their thoughts.
"We always intended in the summer to have a public meeting. One of the reasons it was slightly delayed was finding speakers who are opposed to safe standing/rail seating," spokesman Jay McKenna said.
"It is progressing to a point where we can have an open and honest discussion.
"This is a pretty big step to be even discussing it. There is a long journey to get to that place (safe standing) - if we get to that place at all. But in the first instance it is proper we establish our position so other supporters can move forward.
"We often find, speaking to other supporters' groups, that it is an unspoken thing: 'What will Liverpool fans and those who lost loved ones think?'. And we need to try to get that on record as best as possible.
"It is not something we are actively campaigning on but we are aware other supporters clubs want this conversation with their clubs.
"We are probably some way behind most supporters groups because, not just for the emotion, our efforts and attentions have been focused elsewhere in the fight for justice.
"The thought of Liverpool or Everton having it (rail seating) is some way off given the emotion. There is a process we have to go through here on Merseyside."
After tonight's private gathering, a second get-together will take place on July 22 - when a couple of hundred people are expected to attend - including representatives from the sports ground safety advisory group and Football Supporters' Federation.