THERE is a growing lobby for standing areas to be introduced at football stadiums.

A recent poll of 2,100 fans, 45 per cent of whom were season ticket holders, returned that 92 per cent want clubs to bring back standing areas.

Tim Gentles, co-founder of the Football Fans Census, who conducted the poll, said: "This is the fourth time we have polled fans on this issue, and support for standing in safe, designated areas has consistently been over 90 per cent."

Before dismissing the issue as something that will never happen, it would be wise to remember that fans invariably get what they want, eventually.

They are the most powerful people in football, and whether they want cheaper tickets, a player taken out of the side or a change of manager or chairman, they always get their way because they are a formidable pressure group when riled.

The voice of the pro-terraces lobby was barely audible when top flight grounds were full, and has become louder as stadiums have emptied.

If it becomes deafening, the authorities will have no choice but to bring back terraces eventually.

The argument in favour of terraces is boosted by the experience in Germany's equivalent of the Premiership, the Bundesliga, where 10 per cent of grounds are standing areas and there have not been any safetly problems.

It is also true that the atmosphere in grounds would be turned up a welcome notch or two by the introduction of standing areas.

The other side of the coin, however, is that all-seater stadia has had the desired effect on English football. It's one thing wanting to stand at a game, but it's more important to eradicate the potential for another Hillsborough.

There was a disturbing crush when Manchester United supporters were packed into terraces behind the goal at Lille recently because too many fans were allowed entry.

That cannot happen in all-seater stadia.

Because of that, and despite my personal preference to watch football standing up, I hope the voice of the well-meaning lobbyist never becomes too loud to ignore.