SOMETHING TO CHEER AT LAST!
PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has announced crowds could return to sport stadiums from October 1 subject to successful pilot events.
Sport fixtures have taken place without spectators since lockdown was imposed in March.
However, the government has now paved the way for fans to potentially return to matches in the autumn after Johnson outlined the next steps to ease coronavirus restrictions, on Friday.
The Prime Minister said: “From 1 August, we will restart indoor performance to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn.
“From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia. Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”
The pilot events would see a limited number of spectators admitted to stadiums with social distancing rules observed.
Domestic competitive sport resumed on June 1 for the first time since mid-March before the Premier League and English Football League got back underway on June 17 and 20 respectively.
International cricket, golf, horse racing and snooker are among the other sports to have resumed in the UK.
This weekend, Non-League returned with the National League, North and
South play-offs behind closed doors.
The publication of the Government’s return to recreational sport framework a week ago was seen as another step in the right direction.
The FA have been working on an action plan and guidance for grassroots football as well as guidance for the National League System which the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport must approve before it can be distributed to clubs.
Meanwhile, the FA Council has now ratified the National League’s PPG conclusion to the season. Champions Barrow, King’s Lynn and Wealdstone will be presented with their trophies by the league this week.