THERE are calls for a ‘safe standing’ roadshow to come to Bradford amid growing support for such areas to be introduced at football grounds across the country.

A number of Bradford City fans would back safe standing at Valley Parade, according to members of two supporters’ groups, and organisers of the national roadshow are being urged to come to the city.

The roadshow, which recently visited Leeds – supported by the Leeds United Supporters Trust – aims to promote the introduction of safe-standing areas at grounds.

Currently, standing areas are prohibited in the top two flights of English football, with “persistent” standing at all-seater stadiums potentially leading to ejection, according to The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF).

Scottish champions Celtic are the most high-profile case of a club who have implemented a safe-standing zone, with Shrewsbury also recently starting work on their own.

Manny Dominguez, Bradford City Supporters Trust (BCST) chairman, is a long-time advocate for safe standing and has been campaigning for it at Valley Parade since 2007.

He said: “I think it would be brilliant! We should have a choice for both home and away fans. If our German owners made a public statement on railed seating, such as what exists in German stadiums, it would popularise the idea even more amongst City’s fan-base.”

It is this “German-style” rail system that the roadshow, created by Jon Darch, looks to promote.

The BCST intends to have a vote on the FSF’s overarching campaign for Premiership and Championship clubs to be able to invest in safe standing, as League One and Two clubs are. The vote will also ask members to vote on safe standing at Valley Parade.

Cllr Richard Dunbar, a City fan, said: “I’m aware it happens in the lower leagues and the Bundesliga, but what’s happened historically means we have to be more mindful of safety. I’m not 100 per cent against it, but I would want evidence of safety and more information.

“Let’s get the roadshow to Bradford for more engagement. Let people see it here.”

Ian Taylor, secretary at supporters group Bingley Bantams, said: “I’m all for it. If you look at most games, a lot are standing anyway. I think the majority would be for it as well.”