[Darran]

There must be a minimum of 1.83 metres between the touchline, goal line and pitch perimeter barrier. NB for Grade A a minimum of 2.25 metres is required. In the case of a new stadium the minimum must be 3 metres.

So that's explained the reason why the pitch is so far away then, but I don't think that is the main issue here.

[drbob]

There must be a minimum of 1.83 metres between the touchline, goal line and pitch perimeter barrier. NB for Grade A a minimum of 2.25 metres is required. In the case of a new stadium the minimum must be 3 metres.

So blame the Health & Safety people.

[Daveangel]

If the area between the barrier at the front of the terrace and the pitch barrier was narrower, new regulations mean we would have had to had a large proportion of it as a croshatched, no standing area. This could well of meant that people couldn't have stood and watched the game leaning on the barrier behind the goal, as per a number of grounds we've visited. Crap for fans as that's their position of choice, and hassle for stewards to enforce. 
As it is, it's wide enough for plenty of fans in the terrace, fans against the pitch barrier, and plenty of room for people to pass through with wheelchairs, buggies etc.

All with with the added bonus of plenty of room to jump around like a fool and hug total strangers when we score. 

Every cloud...

[Joe]

If the area between the barrier at the front of the terrace and the pitch barrier was narrower, new regulations mean we would have had to had a large proportion of it as a croshatched, no standing area. This could well of meant that people couldn't have stood and watched the game leaning on the barrier behind the goal, as per a number of grounds we've visited. Crap for fans as that's their position of choice, and hassle for stewards to enforce. 
As it is, it's wide enough for plenty of fans in the terrace, fans against the pitch barrier, and plenty of room for people to pass through with wheelchairs, buggies etc.

All with with the added bonus of plenty of room to jump around like a fool and hug total strangers when we score. 

Every cloud...

Cheers Dave. Thanks for clarifying.

[Darran]

Cheers Dave for the explanation.

[Neil]

I'd like to think, what with the terracing being rather low that people won't be able to lean on the barrier anyhow.