Article from today’s Telegraph below. It’s fairly obvious from that the PL will struggle to fit in STH though lower leagues might. I’m really struggling to see how these clubs with less TV income survive after government support winds down, and I’m struggling to see how fans would be tempted to go back in under those conditions, akin to a contagion movie. It’s a very worrying time.


Clubs are intensifying plans for fans to return to stadiums at the start of October. Preparations are taking place with local safety advisory groups and ticketing companies.

It is understood Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, told clubs at the final shareholders meeting of the season that he remained confident that a return on Oct 1 – as indicated by the Government – was still possible.

Detailed mapping exercises are being drawn up for every stadium in the country to calculate how many supporters may be permitted back and when. One of the biggest concerns is how fans will enter and leave. After undergoing temperature checks, they will be asked to wear masks – though not in their seats – and to adhere to a one-way system.

Most clubs want at least to accommodate season-ticket holders, but this depends on how many “family bubbles” can be established. A workable occupancy of stadiums is still believed to be 30 per cent. If clubs have to go below that it will make it hard financially for many, especially outside the Premier League, to allow fans back in.

One obvious deterrent - family drives across the country to a match and 5 year old Tommy fails a temperature check at the gate due to a random bug that all 5 year olds regularly get (not Covid). Do the family get forced to turn and drive home?

CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:48 am

One obvious deterrent - family drives across the country to a match and 5 year old Tommy fails a temperature check at the gate due to a random bug that all 5 year olds regularly get (not Covid). Do the family get forced to turn and drive home?

Take little Tommy's temp before you set off?

CrosspoolClarets wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:48 am

One obvious deterrent - family drives across the country to a match and 5 year old Tommy fails a temperature at the gate due to a random bug that all 5 year olds regularly get (not Covid). Do the family get forced to turn and drive home?

Present circumstances a big yes. Partial solution get a thermometer and if OK set off with air conditioning in car at 17degrees and drive over.

I am not particularly political but having witnessed the A level cock up how can we be hopeful the government will get the stadium figures right?
I fully expect Burnley to be pooped on from a great height

If it's 30% our capacity will be about 6,300.

I imagine this will mean no away fans, and season ticket holders allowed in to one game in three, on a rota basis.

With families in the same bubble hopefully taken into consideration

The A level was bound to be a cock up whichever way you look at it. The mind boggles as to what went on in my day where you put up and shut up. Although late in the day how many ways does a student want to get a result they want/need? A real lottery I know but at least they have 4 possible goes 1) the result 2) mock result if they took it 3) sit an exam 4) school appeals on their behalf. The volte-face in England at the 11th hour is as a result of the Scottish fiasco and i think there they are now just going with the Teacher's gradings which will apparently improve the year on year results by 12%. A tough tough time for these children but fortunately most will come though this.
On the stadium issue, won't it be the local health and safety people who will issue short term safety certification notices and limitation of crowd numbers?

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:57 am

If it's 30% our capacity will be about 6,300.

I imagine this will mean no away fans, and season ticket holders allowed in to one game in three, on a rota basis.

I hope away fans are allowed in

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:10 am

I hope away fans are allowed in

I don't, more room for home fans
I don't think the government will want people travelling all over the country every weekend, visiting pubs, public transport etc....

I fear the worst for our ticket arrangements if those measures come in.

Certainly an interesting concept trying to maintain social distance on the current seating plan, whilst accommodating folk who sit together from the same household.

As an example, me and my wife sit together on the same row as five friends who are, in turn all from different households. That will (I assume) mean that I can attend with Mrs Darth with the following configuration (allowing two seats for 1 meter distancing.



The next game:


The Third game:


Now work that into the row in front, behind and those sat either side of our group. I hope someone has a good algorithm for working that out!

I suppose the only other option is you will be allocated a seat which is likely not to be your normal one?

Grumps wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:18 am

I don't, more room for home fans
I don't think the government will want people travelling all over the country every weekend, visiting pubs, public transport etc....

So are we going to limit it to home fans who live within a certain radius of the ground to prevent home fans travelling, visiting pubs and using public transport?

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:24 am

So are we going to limit it to home fans who live within a certain radius of the ground to prevent home fans travelling, visiting pubs and using public transport?

No, just keep those numbers as low as possible. 500 Southampton fans, replaced by 500 burnley fans will reduce the numbers travelling significantly

At first, I was desperate to get back in. Now I'm thinking we'll leave it until 2021-22 and we're all vaccinated and allowed back properly.

Not concerned about the virus at all, just can't be doing with the hassle, complexities and half empty grounds this is going to entail. My only concern is do you lose the habit of going after a year or will we want it more than ever?

It's a logistical nightmare whichever way you look at it

Maybe they should ask folk (season)if they are interested in going under these sort of condition.

I know for one I'm not. I'm sure there will be lots more so that would narrow it down a few thousand .

I think it has been mentioned previously by a poster but I'd be happy to relinquish my seat 20-21 (in lieu of being able to watch online) as long as it was guaranteed to be mine again for 21-22.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:57 am

If it's 30% our capacity will be about 6,300.

I imagine this will mean no away fans, and season ticket holders allowed in to one game in three, on a rota basis.

I hope this doesn't come in, it should be all back or non back.

NottsClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:30 am

My only concern is do you lose the habit of going after a year or will we want it more than ever?

That's what I thought, Notts.

After WW2, there was a real boom in crowds, but that was after six years of austerity and danger.

This time, there's football on TV almost every day, and I think a significant number of fans will have lost the habit for good.

Not me, I regard it as a day out, meeting family and friends as I do, but I do believe crowds will reduce once normality is back.

Watching live games on the Turf, us winning and walking back to the bus station in the pxxxxng down rain beats watching a no fans TV game hands down

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:50 am

That's what I thought, Notts.

After WW2, there was a real boom in crowds, but that was after six years of austerity and danger.

This time, there's football on TV almost every day, and I think a significant number of fans will have lost the habit for good.

Not me, I regard it as a day out, meeting family and friends as I do, but I do believe crowds will reduce once normality is back.

I'm footballed out watching on TV. What I'm missing so much is my friends who I go to football with both home and away, friends I've not seen now in months. It's the most important thing of all to me now given I've seen so few people during this period. I had to pass my brother's house early this week on the way to the dentist and he and his wife came out so we could have a chat. I would normally see him every home game at the very least.

Grumps wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:30 am

No, just keep those numbers as low as possible. 500 Southampton fans, replaced by 500 burnley fans will reduce the numbers travelling significantly

Understand that, but I would prefer to see away fans in even if it reduces the number of home fans.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:06 am

Understand that, but I would prefer to see away fans in even if it reduces the number of home fans.

We will have to agree to disagree, more burnley fans for me wins everyday.

Grumps wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:11 am

We will have to agree to disagree, more burnley fans for me wins everyday.

It's not more at the end of the day, you are just condensing the Burnley fans into the home games and preventing them from going to away games.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:15 am

It's not more at the end of the day, you are just condensing the Burnley fans into the home games and preventing them from going to away games.

Away fans would be too much of a risk. The way things are going, we are likely to have localised lockdowns and so the provision for away fans is not likely to work.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:15 am

It's not more at the end of the day, you are just condensing the Burnley fans into the home games and preventing them from going to away games.

I love away games but it seems to make no sense to allow away fans in under such circumstances especially with us having much more season ticket holders than 7k

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:15 am

It's not more at the end of the day, you are just condensing the Burnley fans into the home games and preventing them from going to away games.

It's more for home games if the whole of the cricketfield is for burnley fans
These should be prioritised over the small minority of away fans, ours and other teams. baby steps.
Also no away fans means less police, less stewards etc required.

Bosna wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:20 am

Away fans would be too much of a risk. The way things are going, we are likely to have localised lockdowns and so the provision for away fans is not likely to work.

So again, your suggestion means you would have to restrict it to home fans who live locally.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:29 am

So again, your suggestion means you would have to restrict it to home fans who live locally.

Yes, why risk have away fans attend? Its common sense, but you don't agree so he must be wrong!

Darlington have applied to go back ro the Arena, on a temporary basis, Morton Park have already agreed, it just needs sanctioning by the league. They have 650 STH, and have no chance of fitting them into the Meadows.

Maybe we should apply to play our home matches at OT, at least we'd all get in

Grumps wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:11 am

We will have to agree to disagree, more burnley fans for me wins everyday.

“ We will have to agree to disagree” ...You can’t do that with ClaretTony, he has to make you see It from his point of view to make you agree with him

My concern is not this coming season, but the one after. As Darthlaw says above, what happens if a season ticket holder decides that this coming season is just too much hassle? (And who would blame him?) Will he still get his seat back for the 21 / 22 season?

Personally, I think going to one game in three, and maybe not knowing where you can sit, would be very off putting.

Should just be home fans in my view.
Whilst we have limited attendance it seems fairer to try and achieve the maximum amount of games as possible for each season ticket holder....not just at our ground but at all grounds.
If you introduced away fans then this complicates it further in terms of who is allowed to go....do they give up one of their home game allowances etc ? But far more important than this is that away fans increase the risk in a number of ways...more policing and stewarding increases the risk for those on duty and those attending. For many clubs already struggling it also brings additional costs.
Anything which increases the risk unnecessarily beyond the risk of bringing some fans back should not be introduced at the outset at the very least. They are trying to find ways to mitigate risk not increase it.

Blackburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:38 am

Yes, why risk have away fans attend? Its common sense, but you don't agree so he must be wrong!

No, it's opinion and that's my opinion. It didn't need this comment not all the other nonsense you were posting last night either for that matter. Either start treating this message board and its posters with respect or find somewhere else to play.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:02 am

No, it's opinion and that's my opinion. It didn't need this comment not all the other nonsense you were posting last night either for that matter. Either start treating this message board and its posters with respect or find somewhere else to play.

Treating people with respect? You remove posts, topics and users if they don't agree with you.

Blackburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:04 am

Treating people with respect? You remove posts, topics and users if they don't agree with you.

No, I removed posts and threads from people trying to disrupt the board. End of story.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:05 am

No, I removed posts and threads from people trying to disrupt the board. End of story.

How was my thread of a squad of 11 fans attending future games disrupting the board?

Blackburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 10:38 am

Yes, why risk have away fans attend? Its common sense, but you don't agree so he must be wrong!

The point he was making was that it is not just away fans who travel to matches. My friend and I do a 300 mile return trip to every game at the Turf, which is further than many away fans would have to travel to matches at the Turf. Both of us are ST holders and in our 70s, therefore, we would both be keen to get to matches, however, it would appear from certain views that we would not be welcome because we do not live locally.

A full solution..

Carry on without fans in the ground until it's safe to let them back in..

Ashingtonclaret46 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:07 am

The point he was making was that it is not just away fans who travel to matches. My friend and I do a 300 mile return trip to every game at the Turf, which is further than many away fans would have to travel to matches at the Turf. Both of us are ST holders and in our 70s, therefore, we would both be keen to get to matches, however, it would appear from certain views that we would not be welcome because we do not live locally.

Well local fans within a certain radius should be priority. Do you think it would be OK for 500 Leicester supporters for example to attend when they was one of the worst hit recently? I'd probably miss out due to where I live, I wouldn't begrudge fellow clarets attending fixtures.

Ashingtonclaret46 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:07 am

The point he was making was that it is not just away fans who travel to matches. My friend and I do a 300 mile return trip to every game at the Turf, which is further than many away fans would have to travel to matches at the Turf. Both of us are ST holders and in our 70s, therefore, we would both be keen to get to matches, however, it would appear from certain views that we would not be welcome because we do not live locally.

I also don't live locally and whilst not a STH I'd nonetheless like to attend. But I accept that in the circumstances we are in I shouldn't be making the journey because it isn't essential and is an unnecessary risk to others. Football is a hobby, its entertainment. It isn't the be all and end all and it makes sense that if away fans can't travel (which I'm sure will be the case), fans based nationally (and perhaps internationally) should also not attend.

I suspect it will be home fans only.
Whilst it won’t eradicate people travelling long distances it would certainly reduce it.

None of it is ideal but they need to try and do what’s best.

And we thought being bussed into Blackburn was bad.

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:12 am

A full solution..

Carry on without fans in the ground until it's safe to let them back in..

Just wait until the games you're allocated this season are West Ham, Brighton, Palace, Fulham, WBA and Southampton for your money, whilst someone else gets Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leeds.

I think trying to distance fans, charge appropriately, allow a similar standard of matches will be a disaster, IMO.

Ashingtonclaret46 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:07 am

The point he was making was that it is not just away fans who travel to matches. My friend and I do a 300 mile return trip to every game at the Turf, which is further than many away fans would have to travel to matches at the Turf. Both of us are ST holders and in our 70s, therefore, we would both be keen to get to matches, however, it would appear from certain views that we would not be welcome because we do not live locally.

I haven't seen anywhere that you wouldn't be welcome..

Darthlaw wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:22 am

Just wait until the games you're allocated this season are West Ham, Brighton, Palace, Fulham, WBA and Southampton for your money, whilst someone else gets Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leeds.

I think trying to distance fans, charge appropriately, allow a similar standard of matches will be a disaster, IMO.

Exactly and just imagine the rumpus there will be on here if they don't let over 60's attend.. Which could definitely happen the way things are going. Much better to keep the grounds empty than risk put people's lives at stake just for attending a football match..

Better to wait while everybody has been inoculated .

I don't think there is a problem with supporters travelling long distances to matches. My round trip is over 200 miles.

The reason home fans only may be fairer is that it prioritises season ticket holders, many of whom, like me, had already paid in full for next season before lockdown.

It could be the middle of next year before a virus is used ,that's at the earliest..


When will we have a coronavirus vaccine?
A vaccine would normally take years, if not decades, to develop. Researchers hope to achieve the same amount of work in only a few months.
Most experts think a vaccine is likely to become widely available by mid-2021, about 12-18 months after the new virus, known officially as Sars-CoV-2, first emerged.
That would be a huge scientific feat and there are no guarantees it will work.
Four coronaviruses already circulate in human beings. They cause common cold symptoms and we don't have vaccines for any of them.

Will be a pretty miserable experience with about 6 thousand people there and no away fans. I'd probably prefer to go and watch Colne for a year tbh.