Fans aren’t allowed in stands for new season
SOUTHPORT FC fans will NOT be allowed to watch either home or away games as they get ready for the start of their new 2020/21 season this weekend.
However the club is preparing to offer a live streaming service for fans to enjoy their football, with more details to be announced.
And while supporters will not be allowed in the stands, they will be able to watch the live streaming of the match from the bar inside the ground.
The Sandgrounders are due to begin their campaign at The Pure Stadium this Saturday, October 3, with an FA Cup Second Round Qualifying tie against Morpeth Town.
They then face their initial home league game, against Hereford, next Tuesday (October 6).
Southport FC had been told that a limited number of fans would be allowed into grounds from October 1, but the Government has now changed its position in the light of rising Covid-19 figures across the UK.
With a squad of players signed, staff at the ground and other running costs, it leaves Southport with a dilemma before the first ball is kicked. ‘Elite clubs’ which include Southport FC and all others in the National League, National League North and National League South, have been told they are not allowed to host fans inside their grounds, or to allow them to visit away grounds, even when playing a ‘non-elite club’ in any of the leagues below them.
Crosby-based Marine FC, which play in the Northern Premier League, just below Southport’s level, is allowed fans.
Southport FC head of operations James Tedford said: “It is my understanding of it that it is mind blowing that I just cannot get the logic that if an elite club, which we are, can bring a non-elite club here with no fans, but if we were to go to Morpeth on Saturday, only home fans could go to that game. So I don’t know operationally how you can manage that.
“How is it that you have got these guys, usually volunteers, how you can tell the difference between a home fan and an away fan if they have not got a shirt on? It’s very difficult.
“I look at Hyde playing Fylde this weekend. They have been selling tickets all week.
“So Fylde fans are either going to have to be refunded, or turn up in a Hyde shirt to get into the match.
“So at the end of the day the understanding just confuses people but it’s not for us to decide.
“As far as we are concerned we are not allowed fans here and when we travel away we are not allowed fans and we will just have to go with it.”
The good news for fans is that Southport FC is looking to provide live streaming from as many matches as possible this season, both from the league and also cup matches.
James said: “That is what we are looking to do, starting this Saturday, and we will get the details out tomorrow.
“We want to have people in the football club watching and supporting the club basically.
“You can buy your beer here while watching the live stream.
“Now it is going to be painful for people knowing that 20 feet through a wall there is a football match going on that you cannot watch in probably a safer environment than sitting inside a bar. That is the rules.”
The club is also looking to live stream away matches where possible.
James said: “If a team is streaming the game, we will put it into the bar and ask fans to come and watch it.
“If not, we will ask if we can take our own camera and if we can stream and if we can just come to some sort of deal with them.”
The FA has been liaising with the Government regarding attendance of spectators at FA Cup fixtures in light of the recent Government announcements.
This position will apply for matches in The Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying and will be reviewed prior to the Third Round Qualifying.
The FA will be publishing a Covid19 Protocol, which all relevant clubs must comply with, containing additional requirements for the purposes of the Second Round Qualifying in order to enhance the safety and security of the relevant fixtures.
BOOTLE manager Joe Doran has bolstered his squad ahead of their North West Counties League kick-off this weekend.
Doran has added Craig Ellison and Paul Woolcott to his squad, while Louis Coyne is also set to sign for the Bucks ahead of Saturday’s opener against Burscough (3pm).
Ellison, a goalkeeper who joins from Hyde having played for Congleton Town in the past, is expected to compete for the number one shirt with Ryan Jones and McGovern.
While Woolcott needs no introduction to the club’s supporters having been a part of the squad that finished second to Atherton Collieries a couple of seasons ago.
Coyne, a centre-back, featured for the Bucks in a behind closed doors in house friendly on Saturday and would be joining the club from Prescot Cables.
The Bucks head into Saturday’s opener on the back of their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Skelmersdale United in the FA Cup last week.
Jason Carey fired the hosts ahead at the JMO Sports Park before Ben Hodkinson struck with eight minutes of normal time remaining to level things up.
But three minutes later Paul McNally’s responded in the best possible way when Jack Grimshaw collected Alex Griffiths’ cross before emphatically finishing past Ryan Jones.