FANS will be able to get closer to the action at this year’s Cimandis Muratti final. Ever since the ground was adopted as the island’s ‘Wembley’ there have been complaints about a lack of atmosphere at Foote’s Lane with supporters kept behind fences around the running track and too far from the pitch.
But when Guernsey takes on Jersey a week on Sunday, fans will be allowed to stand along the track on the far side of the ground.
Also there will be seating for more than 500 supporters behind the goal at the Ozouets end in the Cimandis Stand.
‘It’s brilliant news: we’ve been working for the last two months to get people closer,’ said Guernsey Football Association director in charge of representative football Mark Le Tissier.
‘We looked at so many options but this one is most cost effective and it will work. People are going to get right up to the grass area of the pitch.
‘Hopefully it will accommodate quite a few people along that side.’
Le Tissier agreed that the open space between the fans and the action created by the athletics track was the reason why there had been a lack of atmosphere at the ground.
‘I’m sure that it’s contributed to it,’ he said.
‘We’ve listened to them [the spectators] and we’ve tried our best to get people closer to the pitch. With the additional stand as well, it means that more people can get closer.
‘And we’ve worked hard to achieve that.’
The GFA are anticipating up to 3,500 people will go along to watch the match. The arrangements will stay in place for the women’s Muratti the next day.
Guernsey coach Steve Ogier is delighted with the developments.
‘To be honest I think Guernsey’s football public are used to watching games at grounds around the island from a couple of metres away,’ he said.
‘They feel they are a little bit more a part of the game and I think it will be, from a spectator’s point of view, more enjoyable. I’ve always said that the facilities at Foote’s Lane are good but it does lack atmosphere.
‘But with added seats and with people now closer, they [the GFA] are trying to address the situation to give what the local fraternity wants. By having them closer it will hopefully create more atmosphere.’
Island captain Matt Warren agrees. ‘It will be great and I think it’s the thing that Foote’s Lane has missed especially when you compare it to the Island Games in 2003 at the Corbet Field,’ he said.
‘People were two or three deep whereas Foote’s Lane is a bit of an open space. You get more atmosphere when the spectators are closer.’
Article posted on 25th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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