Harrogate Town AFC have said it has come as a surprise to allow spectators into football grounds, but it is a real boost.
The changes has come with very little notice and some Clubs have safety officers still on furlough.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Town AFC said:
Ultimately, we need permission from North Yorkshire Safety Advisory Group, The Sports Ground Safety Authority as well as Public Health England and our Stage 5 Covid Protocols must be signed off before we are allowed to have fans return. It is important that we get this right and keep everyone safe.
The overall capacity will be reduced due to already designated ‘Red Zone’ areas which isolate teams and match officials, in our case we lose 550 capacity at a stroke, as the changing rooms are situated under a terrace and further 1300 as the terrace on Wetherby Road which is used for home and away subs as they are not allowed to sit in the dugouts due to social distancing.
Clubs such as Harrogate Town have predominately terracing, where social distancing is more difficult to deploy than seated stands.
Egress pinch points conflicting with accommodating social distancing will also be a cause of reducing capacity. We are currently widening exit paths adjacent terracing to help to increase capacity.
Our first match with fans has to be used as a Test Event which again will reduce numbers.
On a further point and to clear up any misunderstanding. On hearing the news about the return of fans, we immediately asked Scunthorpe United their thoughts on the potential to move our fixture back 24 hours, however, a switch at such a late stage was not agreeable, as is their right.
There will be further and regular up-dates from the club regarding progress, ticket distribution and the organisation of matches, how we get fans safely in and out of the stadium.
It’s a bit of a pigs breakfast really.
When I watch?