League Two club urged by supporters to rethink rarely-seen stadium policy ahead of play-off push

Swindon Town are facing calls from supporters to revisit a controversial stadium policy ahead of a crucial run-in.

With a League Two play-off push underway, attention has turned to improving the atmosphere at the County Ground.

Swindon Town fans call for key County Ground change with play-offs in sight

Key supporter group TrustSTFC are urging the club to amend restrictions in the Town End that currently ban under-18s from sitting in blocks T1 and T2, a policy that has been rarely-seen across the pyramid.

The rule was introduced on safety grounds following guidance from the Safety Advisory Group, but fans believe it has had unintended consequences.

Younger supporters have instead moved into nearby sections, leading to reports of anti-social behaviour and further restrictions on ticket sales in those areas.

Trust chair Neil Hutchings says the current setup is not sustainable and has called for the age limit to be lowered, potentially to under-16 or under-15, as a compromise, via the Swindon Advertiser.

There is also a longer-term push for licensed safe standing to be introduced, although that would not be ready in time for this season.

Despite the challenges, there are signs the club is open to discussions, with safe standing already included in future stadium planning.

FGG says: A balancing act but one that could hand Swindon a big boost

This feels like one of those situations where good intentions have created new problems.

Safety has to come first – there’s no debate there – but atmosphere is a huge part of what gives teams an edge, especially in high-stakes games like the play-offs.

If the current setup is diluting that, then it makes sense to at least explore adjustments, even if only on a short-term basis.

Finding the right balance won’t be easy, particularly with multiple stakeholders involved, but even a small tweak could make a noticeable difference on the pitch.

And with promotion to League One potentially on the line, a louder, more unified County Ground might just provide the kind of boost Swindon need at exactly the right time.