Start Of The New Season - CONFIRMED

[Savagebee]

2 hours ago, petethegreek said:

 

Sports minister says fans can return to grounds at Step 3 and below

 

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/31385/sports-minister-says-fans-can-return-to-grounds-at-step-3-and-below/?fbclid=IwAR3D9mroi9j4ZvU-19X2o5hcOlUWGMBCgkFdxe_SLSlc9zq9MR0fvoJC5YA

Date?

[Rhodes]

22 hours ago, Rhodes said:

A letter signed by Gillan was sent to Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston last night (Monday) calling for the blanket ban at football grounds to be lifted with a special exemption made for Non-League.

The prompt and encouraging reply from Nigel Huddleston following the letter sent to him by a group of MP's:

[petethegreek]

The FA confirms return of limited crowds at Steps 3-6 of Non-League football

https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/31394/the-fa-confirms-return-of-limited-crowds-at-steps-3-6-of-non-league-football/?utm_medium=onesignal&utm_source=push_notifications&utm_campaign=web_push

[Rhodes]

Yes, some good news for a change, I assume it is with immediate effect, it's a shame it wasn't in time for last night with so many attractive friendlies that would have attracted good attendances:

Fans will be allowed to attend football in the seventh tier and below, after the government updated its guidance on recreational team sport events.

Clubs in the leagues below National League North and South will be able to open their gates to spectators for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The decision means a distinction has been drawn between the return of fans to recreational sport and elite sport, where pilots are required before an intended expansion from 1 October.

It comes after more than 30 MPs wrote to sports minister Nigel Huddleston calling for the "urgent return of fans to non-league clubs".

The letter, which was coordinated by former sports minister Tracey Crouch and Dame Cheryl Gillan, warned that clubs "at the heart of our constituencies" could be "lost forever" if an exemption is not granted.

BBC Sport can reveal that the government's return to recreational team sport framework was updated on Tuesday afternoon to draw up protocols for allowing spectators in.

Fans will need to abide by social distancing rules, and spectator groups must be restricted to "discrete six-person gathering limits".

Meanwhile, organisers of events that are likely to attract a crowd will need to put forward a "named person or persons with responsibility for ensuring adherence with these guidelines and ensuring the facility is Covid-19 secure".

They would also need to publish a risk assessment limiting the number of spectators, and assist with the NHS Test and Trace scheme by collecting information from spectators.

The MPs who signed the letter had said that non-league clubs "tend to be supported by those within the town itself" and that average crowds are "in the hundreds".

BBC Sport understands that the Football Association defines elite football as being everything from the Premier League down to National League North and South, which explains why the new rules apply to step three and below.

A campaign using the slogan "#LetFansIn" has gained significant traction among non-league clubs in recent days, while two petitions supporting the cause have received more than 6,000 signatures.

Crouch posted on Twitter: "Football has many wonderful layers but non-league is often at its heart and soul. With fewer fans it's easier to make clubs Covid secure but without them coming back soon their future is shaky so we've written to Sports Minister calling for non-league clubs to #LetFansIn."

She later told the BBC that not allowing fans to attend non-league football "makes no sense".

An FA spokesperson said: "We continue to follow government advice with regards to the return of spectators and are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS and Leagues to seek approval for a safe return as soon as feasibly possible."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53817206

[AlwaysLeighton]

So supporters are back, meaning a 5th of September start date should be likely...

Anyone know when fixtures will be released? 

[Rhodes]

13 minutes ago, AlwaysLeighton said:

So supporters are back, meaning a 5th of September start date should be likely...

Anyone know when fixtures will be released? 

Karen - You're on

[Karen Browne]

Fixtures will be sorted when I have re-arranged for the umpteenth time all these scraps of paper showing me who is playing who

[Rhodes]

There's a new thread on another Forum entitled 'Ticketing arrangements 20/21 season (cashless)' and it's quite an interesting debate so far about how Club's are going to deal with not taking cash at games now fans are being allowed to attend, presumably the bars have been taking cash for drinks since Clubhouses have been open again for the last few weeks. Would a Club actually turn a fan away at the gate if he or she only had cash on them and no other means of paying, perhaps they could issue an IOU slip and keep a note of the persons address for when things are back to normal:

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/ticketing-arrangements-20-21-season-cashless.2284/

[Savagebee]

5 hours ago, Rhodes said:

There's a new thread on another Forum entitled 'Ticketing arrangements 20/21 season (cashless)' and it's quite an interesting debate so far about how Club's are going to deal with not taking cash at games now fans are being allowed to attend, presumably the bars have been taking cash for drinks since Clubhouses have been open again for the last few weeks. Would a Club actually turn a fan away at the gate if he or she only had cash on them and no other means of paying, perhaps they could issue an IOU slip and keep a note of the persons address for when things are back to normal:

https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/ticketing-arrangements-20-21-season-cashless.2284/

Just another reason for me and my Oldman to stick with watching Step 7 and below footy.

[Rhodes]

On 18/08/2020 at 10:55, Savagebee said:

Any news then?

Savagebee - Some flesh on the bones for you from last Monday's meeting between the FA and Step Five and Step Six League Secretaries,  I assume it's referring to both pre-season friendlies and after the actual start of the season: 1. Clubs can host teams above Step 3 with fans (hosts capacity limit applies), 2. Limits don’t include a sensible numbers of volunteers, 3. Clubs should factor in a provision for away fans, 4. Limits to be reviewed and possibly increased from October. Make of that what you will, I still think your picture says it all and that we are still being sold down the river.

[Rhodes]

Another meeting took place yesterday (Monday) evening at 6.30pm between the FA and Step 5 and Step 6 Leagues, the FA asked the Leagues to stress to their Club's the vital importance of enforcing social distancing of fans in order to continue to be allowed crowds as otherwise the relaxation of the recent ruling allowing crowds will be withdrawn. Separately the FA is aware of the issues with the 'Whole Game System' and are trying to resolve them. Another meeting is due to be held on Thursday 24 September: