City of Liverpool FC
SPECTATOR GUIDANCE
FA Cup First Round Qualifying
City of Liverpool FC Vs Morpeth Town
Tuesday 22nd September 2020, 7.45pm, Berry Street Garage Stadium, L30 1NY
City of Liverpool FC has now held two home fixtures that have been organised in accordance with the latest guidance from the FA for the “Limited Return Of Spectators For Clubs At Steps 3-6” and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport “Return to Recreational Team Sport Framework”:
https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/aug/19/updated-guidelines-for-return-of-spectators-190820
The club wishes to place on record its thanks to all supporters who attended these matches and complied with both the guidance issued and the directions of our stewarding team when in the stadium.
Having successfully hosted a Stage 1 fixture (with capacity capped at 200 spectators) and a Stage 2 fixture on Saturday (with capacity capped at 400 spectators), the club was looking forward to welcoming another 400 attendance to Vesty Road for this exciting FA Cup tie.
However, the introduction of increased local Covid-19 related restrictions from Tuesday 22nd September now mean that this is not possible.
At the time of writing, the specific details of these restrictions are still to be published. Accordingly, the club has sought expert advice from public health professionals. On the basis of the information that we have been able to gather at very short notice, it appears that semi-professional football can be played, but that supporters will be “advised” not to attend semi-professional football matches from an as yet to be published time on Tuesday. However, there may be a caveat in that the FA Cup tie is organised under the auspices of a professional body. We are awaiting further guidance on this point.
City of Liverpool FC fully, and without equivocation, supports the introduction of stronger local measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in the absence of specific guidance to the contrary, we feel we must complete this FA Cup match. The alternative being to forfeit the tie and effectively resign from this season’s FA Cup.
In deciding to hold the match, the club has considered three options:
- Hold the fixture as originally planned under Stage 2 DCMS and NLS Guidance (i.e. 400 stadium capacity limit); The club feels that this option may be perceived as encouraging many spectators to ignore the advice not to attend semi-professional football matches. Accordingly, while we believe that our Stage 2 measures offer a safe environment for spectators, which could be enhanced by mandatory face coverings, we do not wish to undermine the message that our public health officials are trying to communicate.
- Hold the fixture under Stage 1 DCMS and NLS Guidance (i.e. revert to 200 stadium capacity limit); The club believes that this would offer spectators a safe environment and, with attendance restricted to approximately 10% of the stadium’s full capacity, distancing would be further reinforced. This option also actively prevents most of our supporters from attending the fixture.
- Hold the fixture behind closed doors (i.e. only club officials and staff present); While this option does appear to meet the guidance with regard to playing semi-professional football and complies with the local advice for spectators not to attend such matches, it does present a significant financial obstacle. In FA Cup ties, both the revenues and costs are shared between the clubs. With no spectators present there will be no revenues to share, however the costs are significant for clubs at this level – including the cost of travel for our opponents and the costs of match officials.
Following careful consideration, the club has decided that the match will take place under Stage 1 DCMS and NLS Guidance, with stadium capacity capped at 200 spectators.
In practical terms, this means that supporters will once again be required to co-operate with the club in the implementation of our measures to ensure a safe environment for all in attendance:
- Do not attend if you have any Covid-19 symptoms
- There will be temperature checking prior to entry
- The hand sanitiser provided must be used upon entry to the stadium and upon passing the barriers before and after the clubhouse
- Face coverings are compulsory
- To protect our gatehouse volunteers, entry will be by pre-paid e-ticket only
- There will be a one-way system in place, see plan attached
- Follow the signage and co-operate with stewards at all times
- Comply with social distancing guidance at all times
- Observe queueing systems for all facilities and follow signage
- Keep designated passing areas around the pitch perimeter fence clear
- To maintain social distancing, terracing at each end of the stadium will be compartmentalised to hold no more than 6 spectators per designated area, as directed by the match stewards
- The right to refuse admission sits with City of Liverpool FC
Any supporters who feel that they cannot comply with these reasonable, and necessary, regulations are welcome to not attend matches until “normality” returns.
Please note that all areas outside of the clubhouse are under the jurisdiction of City of Liverpool FC for the duration of our home matches. As such, all supporters are requested to comply with the directions given by the club’s stewarding team.
This advice may be subject to change at short notice should further definitive public health guidance be made available to the club. Please follow the club’s social media channels for the latest updates.
CITY OF LIVERPOOL FC Vs MORPETH TOWN
7.45pm, Tuesday 22nd September 2020
Berry Street Garage Stadium, Vesty Road, Bootle L30 1NY
STAGE 2 FIXTURE – ONE WAY SYSTEM
> Cashless entry at turnstiles
> Follow one way systerm anti clockwise to designated terrace/stand area as directed by stewards
> Covered terracing to be filled by “compartment” from furthest barrier at the Romans End, followed by The Shed, then the Dodge Kop
> Seating to be filled to limited capacity, by those requesting a seat, from the stand nearest the Romans End to the stand ajacent to The Shed
> No pitchside standing outside of the Romans End, The Shed or Dodge Kop
> Pathway around the pitchside perimeter fencing to be kept clear to enable unobstructed passing
> Unless capacity determines otherwise, decking to be kept clear to enable distanced queuing for facilities and unobstructed exit from facilities
