WE HAVE FEARS DOWN THE PAN
Restrictions could turn fans away
WHILST this weekend sees the end of Project Restart for the 2019-20 Premier League campaign, the majority of Non-League clubs are focused fully on preparations for the 2020-21 season which has been pencilled in to start in September.
The good news is that spectators are likely to be able to watch games when the FA Cup kicks the season off in the opening exchanges. I use the word ‘likely’ because at this stage we have no idea what requirements will need to be put in place to transform our grounds into compliant locations with regard to social distancing, capacities and how players and officials have to adapt.
It is ‘likely’ that the majorI’ve ity of clubs will have to make changes to their infrastructure to ensure safety. That will almost certainly come at a cost which will have to be borne by clubs who, in many instances, will see reduced match day revenues.
It is not the lack of match day income since March that is keeping club chairmen up at night, it is the cost of the changes that are needed to ensure spectators can return.
Capacity
It is highly likely that every ground up and down the country will have to have its capacity limited for the foreseeable future. On paper, for many clubs this may not be an issue, with capacities significantly higher than average attendances but it is the domino effect across football that could cause the issues.
Take my club Lewes and Brighton & Hove Albion for example. The Dripping Pan and the Amex are just five miles apart. If our respective capacities are cut by 66% when football restarts, only 10,000 will be able to watch the Seagulls in the Premier League – 20,000 less than their capacity.
So, if, say, five per cent of those fans decide to come to the Dripping Pan instead – or perhaps Whitehawk, Worthing, Burgess Hill Town or Saltdean United, all within a 15-minute drive – then we wouldn’t be able to let them in as our safe capacity is likely to be around 800 – 300 more than our average attendance.
Clubs will have to ensure that limited capacities are not exceeded and that within the grounds themselves, the requisite changes are strictly followed. That will mean additional costs of stewards or finding more volunteers to help – a task that in normal circumstances becomes harder and harder each year.
Danger
Demand may well significantly outstrip supply for many Non-League clubs and they potentially do not realise it. Clubs may have to make games all-ticket, invest in technology to reduce paper tickets and fan-to-club volunteer contact. Capacities will also have to be put and enforced in clubhouses, or tea huts. Paying cash for food, drink, merchandise will be discouraged and other methods of payment will need to be considered.
spent hours this week discussing with our management team how we will ensure players and officials are kept safe as well as compliant with the regulations on social distancing and the requirements laid down by the FA. This currently includes limiting the number of people in dressing rooms to just six – quite tricky when it comes to delivering a team talk or sharing the orange slices at half-time!
The Non-League game as we knew it has to change significantly to ensure that players, officials and fans are kept safe but as a consequence there is a real danger that many fans may just feel it is too much and never return. I hope not but it is a real risk for every club.
And don’t get me started on printed programmes!