Non-league football fans can return to grounds from THIS SATURDAY

Football grounds at step three of the non-league game and below can welcome fans from this Saturday.
Chichester City - pictured playing behind closed doors at Brockenhurst last weekend - are among clubs who will welcome the chance to admit fans from Saturday / Picture: Neil HolmesChichester City - pictured playing behind closed doors at Brockenhurst last weekend - are among clubs who will welcome the chance to admit fans from Saturday / Picture: Neil Holmes
Chichester City - pictured playing behind closed doors at Brockenhurst last weekend - are among clubs who will welcome the chance to admit fans from Saturday / Picture: Neil Holmes

At present only 15 per cent of a the minimum ground grading capacity for grounds at a club's level of the pyramid can be used.

That means step three (eg Isthmian premier) clubs can allow a 300 crowd, step four (Isthmian south east) 200, and step five and six (SCFL premier and division one) 150.

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These limits apply from August 22 to 30 but then increase to 30 per cent - meaning, for example, 600 at a step three ground, 400 at step four and 300 at step five and six.

The news for clubs at Isthmian League level and below was announced this afternoon in new guidance from the FA, which followed a government ruling yesterday that fans could start to return to games at that level.

It means clubs who have been starved of any matchday income for five months can once again start to generate revenue through the turnstiles.

All clubs will have to show they are ready to open their gates while ensuring social distancing rules and other protocols can be met.

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The Isthmian League was among organisations to confirm the news, saying: "The FA have just sent out new guidance which will allow supporters back into our grounds from Saturday.

"The guidance will see clubs have an initial 15% capacity for pre-season games increasing, as long as each Club is comfortable, to 30% for the start of the competitive season.

"At this time, this will be a percentage of the ground grading capacity at the Step the host club plays at. We will provide further guidance if this can be extended further as and when we are able. It is likely that any first review would be in October."

The FA put more flesh on the bones.

It said: "From 22 August 2020 to 30 August 2020, spectators are permitted to attend fixtures at steps three to six of the NLS and tiers three to four of the WFP, providing that their number does not exceed 15 per cent of the minimum ground grading capacity at these levels or respective figures set out within our updated guidelines

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"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

"Stage two: From 31 August 2020, clubs at steps three to six of the NLS and tiers three to four of the WFP will be permitted to allow spectators to attend fixtures provided that their number does not exceed 30 per cent of the minimum ground grading capacity at their level or the respective figures set out within our 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 our updated guidelines."

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