Standing at football matches. It seems a simple enough concept. How is it classified and whether you are allowed to do it; they should be simple answers right? Wrong.

The letters page of the Watford Observer is not one I personally visit often but on Friday it created one of the most passionate responses from our readers that I can remember.

Watford season-ticket holder of 40 years, Ken Connelly, wrote in to complain that his trips to Vicarage Road are being spoiled by those who stand in front of him and claimed he would face ‘abuse or worse’ if he was to complain to them.

Mr Connelly’s decision to put quote marks around the words fans and supporters when describing those who stand at football matches was wrong in my opinion. Those who want to stand when they watch football are no lesser fans than he is. And the idea the Rookery Stand could be closed by the footballing authorities because of those who remain on their feet for too long was ludicrous.

But so were the claims by his detractors that he shouldn’t attend games any more if he felt that way and that he himself was not a true fan. I don’t think the fact some readers incorrectly thought Ken was talking about popular The 1881 section helped matters. For the record, I understand Ken sits in the middle of the Rookery Stand.

What Mr Connelly did was put his head above the parapet and voice a concern that is shared by a section of fans, even if they have not aired them publicly.

Personally when I go to football I want to stand the whole time. It is what I have always done when I am in a position which allows me to do so. But for the large majority of those in the Rookery Stand, and in most grounds across the country, they have other supporters sitting behind them.

For a large proportion of those fans, they just simply stand up and don’t mind doing so. But for a smaller section of them, whether they are elderly, not completely able-bodied or a child, viewing the match when someone stands in front of them is far from ideal, can be uncomfortable and in some instances painful.

So what is the solution? Well this is when it becomes complicated.

Following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, a law was passed that stated all stadiums in the top two divisions had to be all-seater; terracing was no longer allowed. But it is not against the law to stand up at football matches. The law is there must be a seat for every person.

The rules relating to sitting inside stadiums stem from ground regulations and are usually a standard policy passed down by the Football League. It reads: “Nobody may stand in any seating area whilst play is in progress. Persistent standing in seated areas whilst play is in progress is strictly forbidden and may result in ejection from the ground.”

So when Mr Connelly and others state it is against the rules, they are right. But very few clubs demand supporters sit down at all times. Why? Because a large section of their supporter base, it’s probably even fair to say the vast majority when it comes to The Rookery Stand, don’t want to have to sit down when there is a corner, or when Troy Deeney runs through one-on-one.

Realistically football clubs are not going to attempt to force thousands of supporters to remain seated at the most exhilarating time of the match. With all due respect to the large majority of stewards, based on those I see on a match-day, they would find it hard to do so.

Clubs currently retain the status quo and in many instances allow self-policing but as Mr Connelly’s letter has shown and further correspondence has backed up, a small minority of fans are becoming increasingly frustrated at not being able to see. They feel alienated. Some have even suggested they are no longer attending games because of it, particularly away matches.

This presents a problem because apart from the big clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea, most teams need every supporter they can get – and the revenue they provide. For the good of football clubs and a section of their fan base, a solution should be found.

For some their experience, which they pay hundreds of pounds for, is being ruined and regardless of whether you agree with their opinion or not, the status quo should not continue in that regard.

One of the solutions would be the football authorities and The Government ratifying safe-standing areas. But as of yet, the clubs have not demanded it. One contact who had seen the safe-standing section at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate, which is currently only used for rugby, said the rail seats, which can be locked into place for standing or sitting, use up more space than a usual seat and would be relatively expensive to install.

It also wouldn’t resolve the problem of your average fan who doesn’t want to stand all the time but also doesn’t want the constraints of being seated throughout the 90 minutes. After all, how do you quantify ‘persistent standing’? It is subjective.

Cardiff City appear to have found a compromise of sorts. They hired an independent safety expert, Dr Steve Frosdick, to look into the matter and he came to the conclusion that standing at football matches was neither illegal or inherently unsafe.

The club notified the footballing authorities of their desire to have areas where supporters would be allowed to stand for long periods and implemented the change.

Having such a section would enable those who want to stand regularly to do so and, similarly, if fans only wanted to sit down then areas where you had to sit at all times could be created and enforced stringently, instead of having a large majority who plan to defy the ground regulations.

Watford refused to comment on the section created by Cardiff or if they would consider it. They also wouldn’t discuss whether such an area had already effectively been created where The 1881 singing section reside in The Rookery Stand.

The Hornets stated they do their best to enforce the Football League’s ground regulations and said they have only received two formal complaints from supporters regarding standing and believe ‘both received close attention’. We believe Mr Connelly’s letter to the club, which he says didn’t receive a reply, was during a previous regime prior to Gino Pozzo’s takeover.

The Golden Boys issued a statement in response to several questions by the Watford Observer which read: “Matchday staff at Vicarage Road work to a clear mandate to ensure that all supporters are able to enjoy the game in a safe and secure environment.

“This includes pro-active action whenever and wherever possible, with regards to persistent standing among other matters.

Watford FC feels it provides a number of different options such that all supporters can enjoy the match in an appropriate environment – whether that’s in the Family Stand, side-on to the pitch, behind the goal in the Rookery Stand or as part of The 1881 singing movement.”

For many Watford fans, they understand a place in The Rookery End will result in more time on your feet and if you want to sit for most of the game, then the Family Stand or the Upper Graham Taylor Stand is probably for you.

But for some supporters, and I suspect Mr Connelly is one of them, there is an emotional attachment to sitting in The Rookery End. They believe the club should enforce the rules.

For me, if the club tried to get the whole of The Rookery Stand to sit down for the entirety of matches, including great chances and corners for example, then they would be fighting a losing battle. It would be a similar story for certain sections of most grounds across the country.

I believe the Football League should listen to men like Dr Frosdick and make it clear in their regulations that clubs are allowed to create sections where fans can stand for as often as they like. The area could then grow accordingly and there could be a similar section for those who want to sit down throughout, which could be stewarded properly because everyone in their respective areas would want the same thing. For those who don’t want to move halfway around the stadium, they could still sit in their favourite stand but in an area designated for sitting only.

Fans who want to stand shouldn’t be forced to sit. And those who find it difficult to stand throughout the whole 90 minutes shouldn’t be forced to either. Football is supposed to be a game for all, every supporter should receive value for money and common sense should prevail. I suspect it won't.