Turnstiles

This article was generously provided to ClubFootball by the British Council, which operates in China as the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

The magical 'clunk'! In Britain entry to the stadium is through a turnstile. The magical 'clunk' heard as supporters pass through the turnstile signals their transition from the real world to the dream world of football.
 
Gunnebo Mayor started making turnstiles in 1893. Amazingly, a few of the company's earliest models, dated 1896, remain in fine working order at Villa Park, Birmingham. Old and new, their British-made turnstiles can now be found in stadia across the world.
 
Many modern Gunnebo Mayor turnstiles retain the strength and simplicity of their predecessors, but nowadays they are connected to a computerised electronic counting system. This informs the safety team exactly how many people have entered the stadium.

May 2001