Non-league clubs handed a cash boost as FA agree to #LetFansIn

North East non-league clubs have been handed a lifeline after the Football Association confirmed that supporters can attend matches from this Saturday.

The move means that clubs below National League North and South level will be able to allow a limited number of supporters back into their grounds for pre-season fixtures ahead of the new campaign.

Friendly fixtures have been taking place at non-league grounds around the region over the last three weeks – but clubs have abided by FA and DC MS advice by holding them behind closed doors.

However, that will now change with the FA confirmingthat a two-step process will be implemented over the next two weeks.

From Saturday, August 22, clubs will be allowed an attendance of up to 15 per cent of their ground grading capacity, or the figures set out in the released guidelines.

That means that in the step three Northern Premier League Premier Division, clubs such as South Shields and Morpeth Town can have a maximum attendance of 300, with that figure dropping to 200 for Dunston UTS and Marske United, who play in the NPL’s second tier.

Clubs across the Northern League’s two levels will be allowed a maximum capacity of 150 for the first week of the process.

Permitted attendances across all four levels will be doubled from Saturday, August 29, just days before a number of clubs are due to get their competitive seasons under way.

Clubs across the nonleague system will also have to complete and publish bespoke risk assessments of their home grounds, appoint a designated Covid-19 officer and arrange support for the ‘Track and Trace’ process.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddles tons et out plans for supporters to return in response toaletterco-signedbyover30 MPs, including former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch.

Supporters had already launched their own initiative to put pressure on the government after there was growing concern over the financial welfare of non-league clubs that had been deprived of one of their major sources of income.

The #LetFansIn campaign gathered support from around the country, and two petitions received over 6000 signatures.