Given the team’s exciting climax to the 2015/16 season, Sheffield Wednesday were delighted to note the outstanding number of supporters wishing to attend the final two games at Hillsborough, against Cardiff City and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively.
The club experienced extremely high ticket sales for these fixtures and overall, the conduct of supporters was exemplary, with few incidents reported.
However, there were concerns in the North Stand in seating blocks around gangways A, F and G, where a large number of home supporters migrated. This led to the blocking of key entrance and exit areas, which represented a serious breach of our ground regulations.
The overcrowding of the gangways was observed by officials from the FA and local Safety Advisory Group, who consequently raised their concerns. As a result, the club has been advised that the situation will be closely monitored during our opening two home games of the new season against Aston Villa and Leeds United.
If the overcrowding is repeated, sanctions will be considered resulting in reduced ticket sales for the North Stand or the possibility of closure of the relevant blocks.
This overcrowding is unnecessary and caused wholly by supporters entering into the blocks without tickets for the respective areas. A similar situation does not present itself in any other stand inside Hillsborough and must be eradicated.
Everyone at Sheffield Wednesday is looking forward to what we all hope will be another exciting season and we wish to sell as many tickets as possible for our home games. In order for the club to achieve this and also avoid possible future sanction, we politely request that all supporters occupy only the seat for which their ticket is clearly allocated. Thank you for your co-operation.