Rebels fans must wait for Arbour Park return
Confirmation came from the PM this week that supporters would be allowed back into football grounds from next week, however, due to a quirk of fixture list fate, Slough Town may not play in front of their home support again until December 28.
PM Boris Johnson revealed on Monday that spectators would be allowed back to sports events in a limited capacity in lower risk area, and while Rebels fans will be celebrating that news with other fans across the country, they may have to wait longer than expected to be allowed back into Arbour Park.
Slough aren’t set to play another league game until December 9, when they travel to Havant & Waterlooville and their next scheduled league game at Arbour Park isn’t until December 28, when St Albans City are set to visit.
A maximum of 4,000 fans, or 50 per cent of capacity, whichever is lower, will be allowed back into sports grounds in tier 1 areas, while 2,000, or 50 per cent of capacity, will be allowed to return to grounds in tier 2. The ban on supporters in stadiums will continue for areas in tier 3, with the tiers due to be decided by Government today (Thursday).
While delighted at the prospect of fans returning to support the team, Underwood said it raises more questions than gives answers.
“There has been some positive news on that front,” said Underwood.
“But even that positive news, and I feel like I’m always being negative, raises huge questions about the tier system.
“Slough is not great in terms of the infection rate and my gut feeling is that we’ll be in tier 3. If I had to put money on it, I would say that Slough will be in tier 3.
“What does that mean for away games? We go to Hampton on December 12, if they’re not in tier 3 and Slough is, will our away fans be able to travel? That’s the detail we don’t know yet and I’m sure there are conversations going on with the FA and leagues to work out what the rules are going to be. Our capacity is 3,000 so technically we could get 1,500 fans in if we were in tier 2.
“We want fans back in, but nothing seems to be straightforward and easy. There are challenges in terms of funding, what does it mean come January if this tier system is still in place to Easter. Do we continue to get funding? Will clubs get funding even if they’ve got crowds in? If you move tiers and you’ve been getting fans in but now you can’t, what happens with funding then? It feels like we’ve gone from things being very black and white to having lots of grey areas. It could create even more confusion.”
A second tranche of lottery aid was set to be paid to the club this week and Underwood is confident the Rebels will receive the full £90,000 for the three months up to December.
The grant is to cover the losses incurred by playing matches behind closed doors.