Fans join forces to call for playoff capacity increase – Football Supporters’ Association
FSA members at Oldham Athletic and Southend United have joined forces this week, signing a joint letter airing their dismay at the limits placed on the capacity of this weekend’s National League playoff final at Wembley which has seen thousands of fans unable to secure tickets.
The Oldham Athletic Supporters Foundation and the Shrimpers Trust released the letter over the weekend, calling on authorities to find solutions to raising the limit that has been placed on tickets for this Sunday’s match at Wembley.
Planned engineering works on the rail network mean that Wembley Park station is closed, and Brent Council had originally limited each club to just 17,500 tickets apiece.
Lobbying from the fans has been effective in the short term, as the capacity has since been increased to 48,000, but that still leaves many thousands of fans without a way to watch the key fixture as both clubs look to return to the EFL.
The joint letter says: “Although Southend United and Oldham Athletic will be rivals on 1st June, both clubs are very much alike, as century-old institutions that are the heart of their local communities. Both clubs are poster children for the urgent need for a football regulator, with recent histories plagued with financial mismanagement, unscrupulous owners and scrapes with liquidation.
“Both football clubs have come through their existential crises and are now on the up again, and this should be a celebratory moment for them and their communities
“We implore Brent Council and Wembley Stadium to understand the need for greater capacity, and for all key stakeholders to support both football clubs… by finding creative and workable ways to raise the capacity.”
In a statement on the issue of allocations, the National League said “We share the disappointment felt by fans of both clubs and are working with all the relevant authorities – including both Southend United and Oldham Athletic. However, we also recognise that the safety of fans is paramount importance.
“All efforts to increase capacity need to be done so in a co-ordinated and appropriate manner that has fans’ safety at the heart.
“Capacity restrictions for events at Wembley Stadium are set by the relevant authorities in conjunction with Transport for London. Any decisions on capacity restrictions cannot and have not been made by the National League.”
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