Families of the Hillsborough victims have backed plans to introduce safe standing.
A debate held by Liverpool supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly debated the issue amid continued discussions of its implementation at Premier League level.
Both groups debated the potential introduction with an open mind and spoke about their views of wether or not safe standing would be welcome in England.
Some families of the 96 football fans killed at Liverpool’s 1989 FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield do not believe that standing was responsible for their deaths.
Louise Brookes, who lost her brother Andrew at Hillsborough, was one of several that spoke at the meeting about the link between standing and the tragedy.
She said: “I feel very strongly about bringing rail seating [safe standing] in. I don’t believe for a moment that standing killed our 96.
“If it did, then why don’t people die each year at Glastonbury or other festivals? People are standing, singing and dancing and sometimes with other people on their shoulders.
“Also spectators stand at rugby matches, so what is the difference?”
Sara Williams revealed that her late mother Anne was in favour of the proposal as she campaigned tirelessly following her son Kevin’s death at Hillsborough.
“My mum Anne always felt safe standing should be allowed at football matches and so do I,” read a statement.
“…we have known the truth about Hillsborough for years and years and now the whole world does.
“It was not standing itself which killed our Kev and 95 angels with him, it was a catalogue of serious failings by police, the ambulance service, the Football Association and many others.
“The rail seating already being used safely and successfully in Germany and elsewhere is completely different from the caged pens of 1989 in virtually every single way.
“Every fan in there has their own ‘spec’, which is about the same size as a seat now but without as much plastic from the seat getting in the way, and their own personal space.
“I’d be happy to take my kids in there, in fact I think they would love it.”
The Hillsborough Family Support Group remain unconvinced by the reintroduction of terracing but are keen for more research and assurance into the idea.
HFSG spokeswoman Sue Roberts said: “I’m with the recent vote of our group that we remain against any form of standing at matches.
“If standing is ever introduced, we have to be absolutely convinced that everyone is going to return home after the match.
“One family member spoke very well about the issue needing more research, and it’s something which should be worked on together to make sure what is done is respectful and gives people choice.
“It’s not just standing, it’s the egress and ingress of people in the stadium – you might need to leave the ground in a hurry, would it be quicker if people were standing?
“A lot more thought is needed. There’s so many ifs and buts.”
The debate took places as the Premier League wrote to all 20 of its member clubs to complete a survey about the possible introduction of safe standing.
Both Liverpool and Everton had previously ruled out the possibility of introducing standing at Anfield and Goodison Park.
A vote on the joint stance between the Hillsborough families and Spirit of Shankly will take place on Saturday at the city’s Liner Hotel.