Dartford's visit is a landmark moment for Eastbourne Borough and their fans

Several hundred home supporters will watch the Sports take on National South leaders Dartford – and the landmark match marks the end of a long spell of frustration for fans, players and club officials. Since Borough defeated Maidstone United on Saturday, March 14, and the season was abruptly curtailed, the Priory Lane gates have been firmly shut.

After a string of late summer friendlies, Danny Bloor’s men have enjoyed a successful campaign since the early October restart – but the fans have only followed at a distance. Video clips, live streaming – with mixed success – and of course reports in your Eastbourne Herald and on this website have been some compensation for the real thing.

But just last week, Culture Minister Oliver Dowden delighted the sporting world with an easing of restrictions, allowing the return of fans in limited numbers, and with a bunch of conditions. And on Tuesday Borough chairman Dave Blackmore and CEO John Bonar joined a National League Zoom meeting to learn the details.

Limited numbers will be admitted – in Borough’s case a theoretical maximum of 1,002 spectators, but Blackmore and Bonar have paced every yard of concrete terracing at the Lane, and totted up each viable, carefully spaced seat.

“It’s not just about theory,” says John. “It’s about practicalities, comfort and above all safety. We may look to be a little bit cautious for this first fixture, rather than simply getting the arithmetic up to 1,002 at all costs.

“There will be around 120 stand seats available, with further seating reserved for spectators with disabilities or mobility issues. There will be no standing right at the pitchside railings, but supporters will have a perfectly good pitch view from the terracing.”

Two of the Lane’s three refreshment bars will be open, as well as toilet facilities, but the clubhouse remains closed for the moment. Supporters will enter by the main gate, not the actual turnstiles, and a second entrance will be open at the rear car park end.

But fans cannot turn up on the spur of the moment: tickets must be booked in advance, either online or at the club office at times listed on the Borough website. Season ticket holders should also have picked up their tickets ahead of the game.

And they certainly cannot turn up from anywhere near to a DA postcode.The National League has stipulated home fans only, and this rule will also apply, of course, to Borough supporters when their team travels away. All fans who book online must provide an address and postcode, and proof of residence may be required at the gate.

However, the full match will be streamed live, with commentary, for stay-at-home Borough fans or frustrated Darts. Local firm Koly Scaffolding, good friends of the football club, have set up a splendidly sited camera podium above the North Stand.

Temperatures will be tested on admission, and spectators are encouraged to download the Government’s tracking app. Face coverings are required when moving around the ground, but may be removed once fans have taken their seat or found their chosen spot. And there is no substance in rumours that cracking shots, brilliant saves or winning goals can be celebrated only with murmured approval or polite applause…

But never mind the red tape, what about the red-shirted heroes? Danny Bloor’s squad will be burning to get back on track after a narrow 1-0 defeat last Saturday to unbeaten St Albans City – and they will need to be as sharp as the winter weather to overcome Steve King’s Dartford.

Since taking over at Princes Park mid-way through last season, King has drastically overhauled the Darts squad, taking them to a play-off final in the summer and setting out strong title credentials this time around. The North Kent side sit two points clear of Dorking Wanderers at the top of the table.

But the early phases of this season have seen quite a shake-up in the expected National South hierarchy, and no result can be taken for granted. Cometh the day, cometh the crowd – and a freshly reunited partnership of the Sports and their loyal supporters will not be easily beaten.