Premier League and EFL clubs are readying for the return of fans
- Published
Tottenham's first game with fans back will be the north London derby against Arsenal on 6 December
Football clubs are setting out their plans for welcoming supporters back to their grounds.
It comes after the government said spectators would be allowed in outdoor sports venues after lockdown in England ends on 2 December.
Liverpool, West Ham, Tottenham and Everton are among 10 Premier League clubs in tier two, where 2,000 fans will be allowed to watch games.
The other 10 teams are in tier three, where no fans are allowed.
There are also 34 English Football League clubs as well as eight Women's Super League teams able to allow supporters back, although not all have yet confirmed whether they will take advantage.
There are no clubs in tier one, where 4,000 spectators would be allowed into grounds.
Arsenal will be the first Premier League club to be able to host home supporters, for their Europa League tie with Rapid Vienna on 3 December.
The first Premier League fixture to welcome fans will be West Ham v Manchester United on 5 December, before Chelsea take on Leeds later that day.
However, the Hammers will not be opening their doors to any supporters living in tier three or overseas, and there will be "limited" food and drink available.
Their code of conduct states every fan over the age of 11 must wear a mask at all times, except when eating or drinking.
The club will hold a ballot for season-ticket holders and those who are successful will not be eligible to go again until all season-ticket holders who want to go to a game have been to one.
Tottenham will have fans back for the north London derby against Arsenal on 6 December.
Spurs said they will allocate the tickets via a ballot for season ticket-holders and executive members only.
They have also set out their Covid-19 protocols for fans to observe when attending matches.
Starting from 72 hours before kick-off, all attendees will be sent a health questionnaire to complete and confirm they do not currently have coronavirus symptoms and will not travel to the game if they develop symptoms.
The club have also created a supporter code of conduct that they will ask fans to agree to before applying for tickets.
Liverpool have also set out their plans for 2,000 fans to watch their Premier League match against Wolves at Anfield on the same day.
Supporters will all be seated in the Main Stand and the ballot will only be open to fans who live in the Liverpool City Region - an area that covers the boroughs of Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. Applicants must be season ticket-holders or members with at least 19 credits from the 2018-19 Premier League campaign.
Liverpool have similarly created a code of conduct that will be launched in the coming days, while fans must complete a heath declaration at the point of ticket purchase.
Chelsea have also confirmed plans for the return of 2,000 fans for their game against Leeds, but some Blues fans have criticised ticket pricing at £75 as a "clear exploitation of supporter loyalty".
What is each club doing?
Arsenal: No ticket ballot for the Europa League game against Rapid Vienna at Emirates Stadium on 3 December, with a 'first come, first served' priority sale for gold and premium members.
The Gunners will hold a ticket ballot for their match with Burnley on 13 December and for all subsequent home Premier League games. More information on the balloting process will be available next week.
Brighton: Sold 2,000 tickets via a ballot to season ticket-holders and 1901 Club members for the Premier League match against Southampton on 7 December. The club's ticket exchange is open if any are listed for resale.
Chelsea: Ticket ballot will only be open to season ticket-holders and hospitality members. However, season ticket-holders will only be able to apply for general admission tickets, while hospitality members cannot apply for general tickets.
Crystal Palace: An announcement will be made on 3 December about ticket allocations for their home match against Tottenham on 13 December.
Everton: The club is opening a ticket ballot for the Premier League match against Chelsea at Goodison Park 12 December. The ballot is only open to season ticket-holders and hospitality members.
Fans will need to provide confirmation of having received a negative Covid-19 test result on the day of the game - or the day before - to gain entry to the stadium.
Fulham: Yet to confirm ticket details.
Liverpool: Supporters will all be seated in the Main Stand and the ballot will only be open to fans who live in the Liverpool City Region - an area that covers the boroughs of Liverpool, Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral.
Applicants must be season-ticket holders or members with at least 19 credits from the 2018-19 Premier League campaign.
Southampton: Tickets will be available to season ticket-holders. Club still working on a method to distribute tickets and will provide information on how to be considered for selection after 2 December deadline for season ticket-holders to update details.
Tottenham: Allocating the tickets via a ballot for season ticket-holders and executive members only.
West Ham: Will not be opening their doors to any supporters living in tier three or overseas, and there will be "limited" food and drink available.
The club will hold a ballot for season ticket-holders and those who are successful will not be eligible to go again until all season ticket-holders who want to go to a game have been to one.
Any supporter over the age of 11 must wear a face covering at all times, except when eating or drinking, or if they are medically exempt.
Championship
Bournemouth: Will hold a test event with half of their allowance (1,000 fans) for their game with Huddersfield on 12 December. Season ticket-holders will be invited to take part in a ticket ballot. Fans can apply to be seated alone or in groups of two or four.
Brentford: The club plans to allow each season ticket-holder to attend one in every five Championship matches (based on 2,000 limit). Emails have been sent to those eligible for the home game against Blackburn on 5 December, giving them the opportunity to book a ticket. Any not booked by midnight 2 December will be reallocated.
Luton: Long-standing season ticket-holders are invited to attend a pilot event with half of their allowance (1,000 fans) for the game against Norwich on 2 December.
Millwall: Season ticket-holders must confirm their social bubbles to ensure they are eligible to attend the match against Derby County on 5 December.
Norwich: The club put 2,000 tickets on sale to season ticket-holders for each of their home matches against Sheffield Wednesday (5 December) and Nottingham Forest (9 December). A limited number of tickets remained on 1 December.
Queens Park Rangers: Season ticket-holders have the chance to renew their tickets for the remainder of the 2020-21 season from 1 to 3 December, then the club will run a ballot for each game.
Reading: Selling 2,000 for home match against Nottingham Forest on 5 December in three batches over 1-2 December, with priority going to season ticket-holders with most points.
Watford: 2019-20 season ticket-holders are eligible to apply for a ballot for the fixture with Cardiff City on 5 December.
Wycombe: Season ticket-holders were sent access codes to buy tickets for the game against Stoke on 2 December and were given a time to check in at their gate, with all seats socially distanced.
League One
AFC Wimbledon: New Plough Lane stadium is not ready to admit fans yet. The club expect they will need to stage a test event for around 1,000 fans in January before being able to allow up to 2,000 in.
Charlton: Season ticket-holders can apply for the ballot, which will work on a rotation system, for the game with MK Dons on 2 December.
Crewe: Yet to confirm ticket details.
Ipswich: Season ticket-holders will have to register interest which will enter them into a ballot for the game with Portsmouth on 12 December.
MK Dons: Season ticket-holders with priority one can now apply for tickets for the club's three home games in December. If applications exceed 2,000 then a ballot will be held. Deadline for applications is 4 December.
Peterborough: Will hold a ballot for season-ticket holders and will release information about the process soon.
Plymouth: Club has to hold a test event with half capacity for the home match against Ipswich on 5 December, with a list of season ticket-holders invited. If successful, capacity will increase to 2,000 and tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to those who purchase season tickets first.
Portsmouth: Fans who bought flexi-season tickets and memberships before the season were asked to place themselves into groups. Before each home game a draw will be made to randomly allocate which groups will be able to buy tickets.
Shrewsbury: Tickets for the home game against Accrington Stanley on 2 December are available to season ticket-holders who did not attend 1,000 capacity pilot game against Northampton in September.
Swindon: Yet to confirm ticket details.
League Two
Barrow: First home game after lockdown against Salford on 5 December will be a pilot event open to season ticket-holders only. The club will provide ticket-buying details if the pilot is successful and they can increase capacity.
Cambridge: Season ticket-holders in seated areas will be sent e-tickets for the match against Mansfield Town on 2 December, while terrace season ticket-holders can enter the ground as normal with their season cards.
Carlisle: Tickets for the 2 December game against Salford were available to season ticket-holders only at first but 300 tickets were made available for general sale on 30 November, provided purchasers had bought tickets with the club before.
Cheltenham: The club say that because of size of the Jonny-Rocks Stadium they can only admit around 1,000 fans for home game under current rules and tickets will only be available to season ticket-holders.
Colchester: Up to 1,000 seasonal match permit holders will be able to attend the home game against Grimsby on 5 December. Season permits are on sale until 3 December and will be back on sale for future matches from 7 December.
Crawley: The home game against Barrow on 12 December will be a pilot event with capacity limited to 651 for season ticket-holders only. If successful, capacity will increase to 1,302, with priority going to season ticket-holders and the remaining tickets available through a membership scheme, which the club will provide details about soon.
Exeter: The EFL Trophy tie against Northampton on 8 December will be a test event available for season ticket-holders only. Details of how to purchase tickets will be available shortly.
Forest Green Rovers: Fans can buy a four-match bundle for tickets to all home matches from 12 December to 2 January. Tickets go on sale from 3 December. Season ticket-holders will have access for all home games.
Harrogate: The match against Forest Green Rovers on 5 December will be a test event, open only to season ticket-holders.
Leyton Orient: The club are running a ballot for season ticket-holders for upcoming home matches.
Southend: The club have sold 1,639 season tickets so all holders will be able to attend home games. The club have yet to release further ticket purchasing details.
Stevenage: Tickets for the home game against Southend on 5 December are limited to season ticket-holders only.
Tranmere: The club are holding a ballot for the home game against Walsall on 5 December for season ticket-holders only. Those who are unsuccessful will be given priority in the next ballot for the match against Stevenage on 15 December.
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