When are the Football League fixtures announced and when will Harrogate Town fans be allowed back in to watch their heroes?

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Here, we look at some of the key dates and information that Town fans will need to know over the coming few days and months... including the big question of when fans will be allowed back in to watch their heroes.

Football League Two:

Fixtures for next season's League Two campaign will be announced on Friday at 9am. The Harrogate Advertiser website will run a full list of all games as soon as they are available.

The EFL will reveal all divisional fixtures at the same time, while the Premier League will also announce their team's matches on the same date.

Harrogate Town will be taking their place in the Football League for the first time in their history following promotion from the National League via the play-off final.

Their 3-1 Wembley victory over Notts County now sees them set to face the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City as they embark on what will be an historic campaign.

League Two will start on Saturday, September 12 along with the other Football League divisions and Premier League. The Football League is then due to finish on the weekend of May 8/9 while the Premier League will continue until May 23.

The League Two season will include 11 midweek rounds of matches and should Harrogate reach the League Two play-offs then fans will need to mark the Bank Holiday weekend of 29-31 May in their diaries for a potential return to Wembley.

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Ground-share issues:

One of the key things for Town fans to look out for on Friday is how many home matches are scheduled for the opening month of the season, as the club faces up to the prospect of playing their opening few 'home' matches 'away' at Doncaster Rovers.

The short term ground-share deal is necessary because the CNG Stadium plastic pitch has now been ripped up and is in the process of being replaced with a new grass surface, to meet with the strict EFL policy on no teams being allowed to use artificial surfaces.

Chairman Irving Weaver has given a 10 week timescale on getting the pitch ready, meaning that it will not be fit for use until at least Saturday, October 10.

It is expected that Town will need to play at least three games in Doncaster, but they could be forced to play as many as four matches if the fixtures go against them or there is a delay in the recovery of the pitch.

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Cup Competitions:

Town fans already know who they will face in the EFL Trophy and Carabao Cup, with those draws being made earlier this week.

The EFL Trophy had teased the prospect of a glamour tie against Premier League neighbours Leeds United, but instead Town will now face Leicester City Under-21s in their Northern Group, along with the likes of Grimsby Town and Hull City.

The Northern Group fixtures will be played on the 8/9 September, 6/7 October and 10/11 November with the Round of 32 then taking place on 8/9 December.

The Round of 16 will take place on 12/13 January, the quarter-finals on 2/3 February and the semis on 16/17 February.

Even though last season's final between Portsmouth and Salford has yet to be played, the date for next season's final has been set for Sunday, March 14.

A trip to Tranmere Rovers awaits in the Carabao Cup, with Simon Weaver's men due to visit Prenton Park on Saturday, September 5.

Should Town make it through to the second round, then they will play on 15/16 September.

The FA Cup first round proper will take place on Saturday, November 7.

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So when will fans be allowed back in?

It is not known when supporters will definitely be allowed back into games, although there are a number of test events currently taking place within sport which could ultimately herald a return to supporters being allowed back through the turnstiles by October 1.

With the coronavirus rate on a continual decline as it currently is, then it will enable the Government and Football League officials to plan for a steady return of supporters.

Town fans will, no doubt, be eager to see their heroes in Football League action for the very first time and with the CNG Stadium out of action until October 10 at the earliest, it is hoped that some might even be allowed back in to celebrate the grand, grassy, reopening... whenever that might be.

However, there are some reports in the national media that fans will need to sign up to a coronavirus code of conduct which makes them take full responsibility for their health and could even ask fans not to sing for fear of spreading Covid-19.

One thing is guaranteed, that when grounds do finally reopen then there will be a myriad of safety features with one-way systems, reduced capacity, socially-distanced seating arrangements and plenty of hand sanitiser stations.