Safe standing will be introduced at Coppell’s Corner next season, in a move welcomed by Reading FC supporters’ group Club 1871.
Founders Jamie Hodder and Sam Stevenson said the change marks a significant milestone for the fan-led initiative, which has grown steadily over the past eight years at Reading FC.
Club 1871 began with a small group of supporters in the South Stand but has since expanded to more than 1,000 season ticket holders, becoming one of the club’s most prominent supporter groups.
Speaking to RoyalsTV, Stevenson said the idea came during a difficult period for the club.
“It started around the time when we were really struggling, the post-Anton years,” he said. “We were looking to try and gain some of the away atmosphere. When you go to away games, it is generally a pretty good day, even if the result isn’t quite there.”
He added that early efforts were modest but gradually gained traction.
“We needed to do something and luckily the club were fairly receptive to the idea of us taking a very small group of people and seeing what we could do. It wasn’t all positive but from there it slowly grew.”
Stevenson said the group has since helped create a focal point for supporters inside the stadium.
“It is really nice that there is a focal point in the stadium now,” he said. “Previously, Y25 and Y26 was the area players would go to and hopefully now there isn’t that ‘us versus them’ mentality that we used to have.”
Safe standing will be implemented around Club 1871 and in the top rows of the away end for the 2026/27 campaign.
Hodder said the change would help improve atmosphere at matches.
“It’s incredible. It will really help. We made some good noise at Cardiff and other terraced grounds – it’s old school,” he said.
After nearly a decade of growth, the pair are now calling for more supporters to get involved in running the group.
“We need hands,” Stevenson said. “We started eight years ago and we were all quite young back then. Things happen, families happen, people get married. Coming to games every week gets difficult so we are hoping to get some new blood and new ideas.”
He added that existing organisers would remain involved while encouraging new volunteers.
“We are still going to be around and we still want to be a part of it, but if people want to get involved then come and help and see what you can do.”
Further details on how supporters can secure places in the safe standing area for next season are expected to be announced soon.
