It looks like there is good news for all you supporters out there missing Cray Wanderers. Please see here attached a letter from Nigel Huddlestone, Minister for Sport outlining that spectators for football clubs playing from Step 3 downwards can attend matches once the FA have outlined the procedures for you to watch safely. So you can all go to Whitstable Town on Saturday and all the other games in pre-season. So the fans are back, and my whingeing is over. It will be great to see you back at games where you belong as long as you are safe and well and can enjoy the day/night.
These are the pre-season games you can pick from to watch. These could be subject to change.
Saturday 22nd August v Whitstable Town, 3pm
Monday 24th August v Whyteleafe, 7.45pm
Wednesday 26th August v VCD Athletic, 7.45pm
Saturday 29th August vs Burgess Hill Town, 3pm
Tuesday 1st September vs Aveley, 7.45pm
Saturday 5th September vs Hayes & Yeading Utd, 1.15pm
Tuesday 8th September vs Welling United, 7.45pm
Talks are ongoing over a possible later friendly with Bromley. More to follow.
Please see here also the latest bulletin from the Isthmian League following on from the above with FA guidance on how football with spectators can proceed.
FA issues new guidance which will see fans back to football from this week
The Football Association has today issued updated guidelines for the National League System [NLS] and Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP] that include a phased and limited return of spectators for clubs at Steps 3-6.
The FA worked continuously alongside the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS], the Sports Grounds Safety Authority [SGSA] and leagues to submit detailed proposals for a phased and limited return of spectators at these levels to the UK Government.
The DCMS has now clarified its guidance on the return to recreational team sport and clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS are permitted to accommodate a phased and limited return of spectators to fixtures. However, they must follow the UK Government’s guidance in relation to Covid-19 and The FA’s updated guidelines for the NLS or WFP respectively.
The return of spectators- Stage One
All clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS are required to have a designated Covid-19 Officer; complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans; and arrange support for Track and Trace efforts before implementing the following:
Stage One:
- From 22 August 2020 to 30 August 2020, spectators are permitted to attend fixtures at Steps 3-6 of the NLS, providing that their number does not exceed 15% of the minimum ground grading capacity at these levels or respective figures set out within The FA’s updated guidelines;
- If a club at these levels does not play any fixtures during this period, it must have played at least one pre-season or competitive fixture in accordance with its respective level of spectators before moving on to Stage Two.
The return of spectators- Stage Two
Stage Two:
- From 31 August 2020, clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-4 of the WFP will be permitted to allow spectators to attend fixtures provided that their number does not exceed 30% of the minimum ground grading capacity at their level or the respective figures set out within The FA’s updated guidelines.
However, they must be satisfied that they have been able to comply with the Government’s guidance on the return to recreational team sport and The FA’s updated guidelines.
The phased and limited return of spectators at these levels will be kept under constant review in line with the UK Government’s guidelines and will be amended accordingly as required.
These guidelines have been sent to all of our clubs, but can be read in more detail on the FA website- here.
