Last week, just as our AGM was getting under way, the Swindon Advertiser ran a story relating to the Town End and the Club article on further restrictions on ticket sales.
Within the story, Swindon Borough Council denied that they were enforcing a partial closure of the Town End to under 18’s, nor that they had recommended the Club do so.
Since then, we have discussed the situation with SBC and the Club and in the absence of further public comment by either, we can now update members with our understanding of recent events.
Whilst SBC issue the safety certificate for the stadium to operate, the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) exists to provide specialist advice to the local authority so that it can discharge its legal responsibilities under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975. The Club is a member of the SAG but is unable to transfer its responsibility for safety to the SAG or the local authority. Decisions on how the stadium operates are for the Club to make, although the local authority can take enforcement action if its believes that legal or regulatory obligations are not adhered to.
Separate to the SAG, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) is a national body which oversees local authorities’ management of safety certificates and issues licences for grounds to admit spectators to watch Premier League and EFL matches. Both SBC and SGSA undertake regular inspections of the Nigel Eady County Ground.
The Trust has been aware for some time that the SAG and SGSA have raised the issue of persistent standing in various parts of the Stadium. The Club have gone on record as saying a number of incidents have occurred where younger supporters have been injured during goal celebrations at the front of the Town End.
During the summer of 2025, the Club made the decision to remove under 18’s from blocks T1 and T2 in the Town End. This was confirmed on the Club website at the time and is consistent with SBC’s statement to the Adver last week. We understand that this was discussed at and supported by the SAG. However, at subsequent Advisory Boards and at the Joint Venture Board, we and other supporter groups had been told that the decision was taken by the SAG.
At the most recent Advisory Board, the majority of the meeting was spent discussing how to improve the atmosphere in the ground on matchdays, especially in the Town End which has been the centre of noise and passion for decades. The following day, the Club announced it was extending restrictions into block T3. This was not mentioned or opinion sought at the Advisory Board the previous day, nor to the Trust in advance.
The Trust will always support the Club in making the Nigel Eady County Ground a safe and welcoming place for all supporters. But safety measures need to be practical and effective.
The ticket restrictions have solved the reported problems in blocks T1 and T2 as they are now mostly empty on match days. Instead, as supporters move into different blocks, new issues have been reported in block T3, leading to new restrictions. In addition, there have been reports of flash points with stewards trying to manage an impossible situation with some not helping themselves by being overly authoritative.
It seems we are on a slippery slope towards under 18’s being banned completely from the Town End which would be self-defeating for the Club and supporters alike.
As reported by others, an opportunity now exists for the Club to take a step back and have a fresh look at the oldest stand in the stadium. Not just its ticketing policy but the stand itself, together with its facilities.
Through our discussions with SBC and the Club, the Trust have:
- recommended that the Club’s policy of restricting under 18’s in the Town End be reconsidered at the earliest opportunity;
- that if it is felt restrictions should remain to protect younger supporters, a more appropriate age limit be determined;
- research be undertaken into implementing licenced safe standing in parts of the Nigel Eady County Ground; and
- in accordance with the requirements of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, allow supporter representation at the Safety Advisory Group
Safely filling the Town End is a case we, along with other supporter groups, have been making for some time. The Town End has always created the atmosphere, becoming the twelfth man which the team feed off. It’s time for everyone to play their part in making that happen, including the Club.
We’ll keep supporters updated with our progress in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, safe travels to the thousand or so making the journey to Crawley tomorrow and Come on You Reds!