The Gooner, in its current issue, ran a report on the AISA Matchday Experience meeting held on April 11th. Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding, the draft contents weren’t checked, resulting in some inaccuracies and misunderstandings.

The discussion about safe standing at football matches focussed around the benefits and advantages, and it was stated at the meeting that “it is not currently legal, and this can only be changed by politicians”. The two attributed quotes are incorrect and that from Ivan Gazidis, should have said that “he has commented publicly that he is very open to it and the club would consider safe standing, were the law to change”. AISA reported that they had discussed this with the Club, and also that they support the Football Supporters’ Federation campaign; more information can be read here. The Gooner report goes on to say that “The Metropolitan Police Ticket representative assigned to Arsenal is Dave Walters” however there is no such role! Dave Walters is a former Police Liaison officer with the club, and it had been planned he would attend the meeting before his role had changed. Amanda Jacks’ comments about an officer talking rubbish were in response to a comment from an unnamed officer, reported from the floor of the meeting.

The information about the proposed Young Guns enclosure was misquoted and the Club has subsequently confirmed that it will be available for both Grade B and Grade C weekend matches, see here. The club’s community liaison officer is not Alan Sexton but Alan Sefton, and the idea that the players are contractually obliged to do two hours of community work every week, but only do two hours a year, came from the floor, and is not an AISA view. Likewise the suggestion that 50 young fans meet players before the match was something stated from the floor, not an AISA proposal.

Finally, the suggestion that moving away fans to the south east upper tier was instantly dismissed by the Club on “health & safety grounds” is a complete falsehood. As reported here, AISA has been discussing this with the club throughout the season. There was a significant amount of work by the club, but the meeting heard that objections have now surfaced from the Metropolitan Police and the licensing authority.

It was a packed, vibrant and somewhat hectic meeting with comments flying in from all over the place, hence the need for this correction and update. Apologies to those concerned.