When you visit the various auction websites available across the UK, you will see a number or football league teams selling off their old turnstiles that have been part of their culture for the past 30 or 40 years. What you would choose to do with your turnstile once you got it home is highly debatable, so perhaps you will use it to replace your rear garden gate?
One of the main reasons that turnstiles from football stadiums are so popular is because millions of the U.K.’s citizens have been passing through those turnstiles 40 to 50 times a year to watch games home and away.
Can You Beat The Turnstiles?
Turnstiles have become part of folklore, because they can’t be beaten. You can only go through the turnstile when the operator lets you through. Some extremely small or slim people have always tried to go through with another person, but if they tell you they’ve succeeded, take the story with a pinch of salt.
The problem with turnstiles is more with larger people who may struggle to get through the small space. Football supporters used to claim that the turnstiles were so narrow, perhaps 3 feet wide, anyone hoping to include a pie of chips with a couple of cans before the game, might have difficulty negotiating the narrow width.
Obviously, the turnstiles of old were built to stop fans pushing through the without paying. In the old days, which were only 15 years ago, most people would pay for their ticket by cash. These days, the majority of supporters have either paid for their season ticket by credit card or purchased a ticket in advance, for away matches.
The Security Angle
From the football club’s point of view, turnstiles provide an excellent secure shutting down of passageways. They also form excellent checkpoints where, in conjunction with high security, people can be carefully policed into a football stadium, especially important considering the lessons learnt at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield in 1989.
You can see, what are commonly known as football turnstiles, in many other locations. Amusement parks use them as do many other sporting venues. However, people have written non-fiction books related just to their turnstile experiences over the last few decades and you can buy those books on the most popular websites.
People love and hate the turnstiles they’ve passed through time and time again at their local football club, and they’ve known individual turnstiles longer than their spouse and children. It’s no wonder they’re part of our everyday culture.
Echa un vistazo a nuestra variedad de Camisetas de fútbol. Camisetas de entreno y partido de clubes nacionales y selecciones internacionales. Todas las noticias sobre fútbol en el diario de actualidad elEconomista. Descubra toda la actualidad relacionada con fútbol.