FLA Matters concerning Hereford United

For the record we reproduce those parts of recent meetings of the FLA (Football Licensing Authority)when Hereford United has been discussed. The authority is quite slow in releasing details of its meetings so more information may be available in good time.

Meeting July 7th 2009:

Hereford United – The club had been promoted from the Football Conference at the end of the 2005/06 season. In line with FLA policy the club had been given three seasons to bring its terraces up to the prescribed standard. However three areas, the Blackfriars Terrace, the Merton Terrace, and the Len Watson Terrace, remained non-compliant. As a result of recent tests of the crush barriers on all three terraces the local authority had set a zero capacity for the Blackfriars Terrace. The Board considered the case for licensing the two remaining areas, the Merton Terrace and Len Watson Terrace.

Taking into account the information before the Board, it was minded to allow the club a further 6 months to bring the standing accommodation on the Merton Terrace and Len Watson Terrace to required standard. Any areas of non-compliant terracing remaining at the end of January 2010 would not be licensed and the club would be required to take them out of use.

The Board confirmed that it would not grant the club’s request that the level area at the front of the Merton Terrace should be licensed as viewing accommodation.

From the Meeting Sept 7th:

Hereford United – the Board had granted the club a further 6 months to bring the standing accommodation on the Merton Terrace and Len Watson Terrace to required standard. The club had been advised of the standard. The onus was on Hereford United FC to demonstrate, before January 2010, that the upgrade to the terracing was complete for an amended licence to be issued or that work was significantly well underway for a further period of dispensation to be considered.

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