Terriers upping plans for the return of fans

HUDDERSFIELD Town chief executive Mark Devlin has issued an update on the preparations the club are making to welcome supporters back to the John Smith’s Stadium.

Terriers fans have been unable to attend matches since March and with Kirklees placed in Tier 3 by the government, fans still can’t attend matches.

Wednesday night saw Luton Town and Wycombe Wanderers host supporters for the first time in nearly nine months as they are in Tier 2.

Devlin has now spoken out about Town’s determination to welcome fans back to the John Smith’s Stadium as quickly and as safely as possible whilst explaining how supporters will be selected to attend matches.

“It was great to see some supporters in stadia for the first time since March, it felt like a big moment for football,” he said.

“Obviously that is something we’re going to have to wait longer for at Huddersfield Town, which was news we all expected when the tiers were announced recently.

“However, I want to assure our supporters that we are doing all we can to prepare for their safe return to the

John Smith’s Stadium in the interim.

“There is a lot of detail to work through and we’re working with the staff at the stadium to ensure we are ready.

“A key part of this will be facilitating the process for 2,000 supporters to attend per game, which is allowed as a Tier 2 area.

“Again, I assure our fans we will do this as fairly as possible, ensuring that every Season Card holder that wants to watch a game will have as fair a chance as every other to do so.

“There will be a process in place whereby supporters not selected in the ballot to attend the first game, will have their application carried forward to attend the next game and so on until everyone has attended a match and the process will start again.

“In due course, we will be contacting our Season Card holders to establish who wants to come back at this stage, who is in their social bubble and with an amended Code of Conduct that outlines what is operationally necessary in the current climate of the pandemic.

“This will be rooted in common sense and will not be hugely different to how you must operate in other settings.

“Please keep checking htafc.com and your email registered with the club for this communication in due course.

“Finally, I want to thank every Town supporter again for their understanding, patience and support during this unprecedented year.

“The backing you have shown the club and the team through this period of transition has been phenomenal.”