Revealed: What Harrogate Town need to achieve this week to ensure that fans are allowed to attend Forest Green Rovers clash

Garry Plant has outlined exactly which boxes Harrogate Town need to tick to enable them to allow spectators entry to Saturday's League Two clash with Forest Green Rovers.
Harrogate Town supporters could be able to attend a fixture at Wetherby Road for the first time in almost seven months this Saturday. Pictures: Matt KirkhamHarrogate Town supporters could be able to attend a fixture at Wetherby Road for the first time in almost seven months this Saturday. Pictures: Matt Kirkham
Harrogate Town supporters could be able to attend a fixture at Wetherby Road for the first time in almost seven months this Saturday. Pictures: Matt Kirkham

The Sulphurites' managing director said he is "relatively confident" that the club will be given permission to hold a test event for the return of fans to the EnviroVent Stadium this weekend, but insists that there are still a number "big obstacles" to negotiate.

Town’s hopes that they would be able to allow supporters to attend a home fixture for the first time since March were raised last week when the government announced that North Yorkshire would be placed in tier two measures upon the conclusion of the second national Covid-19 lockdown.

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The first hurdle that Harrogate need to clear this week is a meeting with the local authority's Safety Advisory Group on Wednesday morning.

The Main Stand at the EnviroVent Stadium.The Main Stand at the EnviroVent Stadium.
The Main Stand at the EnviroVent Stadium.

If all goes to plan there, the club will then be seeking approval from the Sports Ground Safety Authority, before applying to Public Health England to sign off on their plans for the Forest Green fixture.

If all three bodies give Town the green light, then there would be no reason for the Football League (EFL) not to sanction Town's proposed test event.

"There's a lot of work still to do, but we are ploughing ahead," Plant said.

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"I am relatively confident that we'll be able to have supporters in on Saturday. I'm upbeat about our chances, however there are still a number of big obstacles that we need to get through.

"If Saturday happens then it will be the first opportunity for a true celebration of last season's promotion between the players and the supporters.

"There have been a lot of historic days and big games for this football club in recent times. We've seen history made, but for me this would be another biggest day in the club's history, a very different one, but having fans back inside the stadium for the first time since the pandemic will be huge."

A statement released by Town on Monday evening said: 'This test event will mean operating at a much lower capacity than usual, to ensure social distancing can be adhered to, and to practice our COVID safe procedures outside, upon entry to, and whilst inside the stadium.

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'A huge effort has gone into creating a 'COVID secure’ EnviroVent Stadium, including creating one-way systems, additional hand-sanitising areas and signage all around the spectator areas.

'For the test event, we will only be permitted to open the new Main Stand, along with the Car Park terrace along the same side. This means that we will only be able to permit season ticket deposit purchasers on December 5. No general sale tickets will be made available for the fixture, nor will any further season ticket deposits be sold until further notice.

'All season ticket deposit purchasers who have reserved standing tickets will be issued a ticket for the Car Park terrace for the ‘test event’.

'As per EFL and government regulations, we can allow season ticket deposit holders who live in a tier one or tier two designated area to attend the fixture on Saturday.

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'Unfortunately, we will not be able to permit anyone who lives in a tier three designated area. We are hopeful that supporters living in current tier three areas will be able to return to fixtures in due course, should the restrictions be eased and/or change.'