MPs’ plea to let fans attend historic final
MINISTERS have been urged to turn the FA Vase final between Consett and Hebburn Town into a pilot event allowing spectators to attend.
North East MPs say fans could be allowed into the Wembley Stadium match on May 3, as a way of testing safety procedures.
Government ministers suggested it was unlikely that the current plans to hold the event behind closed doors will change. But Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden said: “We will of course keep this under review, and if there were a possibility, of course I would grab it.”
As things stand, fans will be unable to travel to Wembley for what is the second-ever all-North East final. Instead, the FA Cup final on May 15, will pilot allowing fans to attend.
The competition has already suffered massive disruption due to the pandemic with the final taking place a year late. Quarter-finals were played in February of 2020 before the first lockdown forced a delay. The semi-finals were played in September, with the final due to be played later that month, only for Covid to force another delay.
North West Durham MP Richard Holden asked the Government to re-think the plans.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: “This week, Consett AFC heard that its FA Vase final will have to be played without any supporters at it, despite the FA Cup final just a couple of weeks later being played with supporters.
“May I urge the minister to speak to colleagues and the FA to see whether there is any possibility that this vital final – the first time Consett has been to Wembley in over 120 years – might be played with fans?”
Jarrow MP Kate Osborne made a similar plea. She said: “The FA Vase final between Hebburn Town and Consett AFC has been rescheduled to take place behind closed doors at Wembley Stadium on 3 May. “This is the biggest match in Hebburn Town FC’s history, so I want to add my support on this issue.
“Will the Secretary of State work with the FA to make the final a pilot event for allowing the safe return of spectators to such sporting events?” John Whittingdale, Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said fans may be forced to watch from home.
In response to Mr Holden’s question, he said: “I fully understand his disappointment that it does not look as if it will be possible in time for the match.”
But Mr Dowden suggested the matter isn’t fully closed, saying: “We have already set out a pilot for the FA Cup final. It is important to understand what these pilots are about.
“They are about testing fans coming into and out of stadiums; they are not windows to allow extra events to happen. We will of course keep this under review, and if there were a possibility, of course I would grab it.”
Bosses at the two clubs have expressed disappointment that fans will be limited to watching live coverage on BT Sport.
Consett chairman Frank Bell last week said: “It’s history, you can’t take that away – but we are gutted that we can’t have the supporters there.”