FC Halifax Town: Reduced capacity puts us in a ‘precarious position’ say Town

The Shaymen have been told that they can allow no more than 1,400 supporters into their ground, although there are question marks over whether fans will be allowed to attend games when the National League season begins on Saturday, October 3, when Town host Dagenham and Redbridge.

Earlier this week, National League chairman Brian Barwick wrote to the Government for permission to commence the new season on 3 October with fans in attendance with social distancing and other Covid secure measures in place.

He said: “The National League restart depends upon crowds being allowed back in stadiums as live attendance is our clubs’ largest source of income.

“The Government urgently needs to set out a credible pathway for the safe return of supporters, and to ensure our football clubs can continue to function, and to perform their significant role in the sporting life of the country.”

Town say they are working tirelessly to prepare The Shay for the start of the season and have worked with all the relevant Calderdale Council departments to agree figures for how many home supporters could be allowed in the East and South stands, along with a capacity for the North Stand.

In a statement, the club said: “Due to current restrictions and guidelines within Calderdale our stadium capacity has been reduced to slightly less than 1,400 people across the three licenced stands. This number will be under constant review but right now this is the capacity number we’re working with.

“It will come as no shock that this puts the club in a precarious position, very much in a situation where finances are not within our control and we’re working tirelessly to steer the club through these extremely difficult and worrying times.

“If you have purchased a senior season ticket(s) and have requested more than one free u12 ticket(s) and want to sit within the East Stand then your allocation of free u12s tickets will be reduced to one per paying adult only.

“You can however choose to stand in the South Stand and will receive two free u12s tickets per paying adult the maximum amount of free u12s tickets will now be capped. (one per paying adult seating) (two per paying adult standing).

“This will be reviewed in December and if we can change this position we will and we’ll revert back to your original order.

“If you have purchased a senior season ticket(s) and requested more than one u12s ticket and find the situation not as you wish, then given these changes we would refund your senior ticket and we would process a full refund immediately. Please contact orders@fchtshop to arrange - this must be requested by Saturday, September 20.

“If you have purchased a season ticket(s) and want to stand then you don’t need to do anything, please just keep an eye on our communication channels for when season tickets will be ready for collection, this will be the during the week before the start of the season. There will be regular updates prior to the 3 October.

“If you have purchased a season ticket(s) and want to sit we’ll be asking our disabled supporters , those with mobility issues and those aged 60 and over to come to the Shay Stadium on Thursday, September 17 between 11am and 6pm where we will start the process of seat allocation (if you don’t fall into one of these three categories please do not attend). If you can’t make this time then don’t worry, there will be other opportunities but we would like to finalise these categories as soon as possible.

“If you are sitting within a chosen ‘bubble’ we’d ask you to send just one person from your bubble to the Shay to arrange your seats, please make sure they have all the details of each person.

“We’ll be communicating our next seat allocation dates and times shortly.

“With the greatest regret, you will not be able to choose your seats, please remember it will be impossible to please everyone! We will do our best to help those who need it most.

“Once we’ve completed the seating allocation for season ticket holders, we’ll then be able to advise the match by match ticket purchase process depending on what availability we have left.

“We may yet put senior season tickets back on sale dependent on numbers involved.”Over the next week we’ll be confirming our position regarding away fans. Also, we are hoping to reveal additional plans for the streaming of games – again rest assured all these things are being worked on and progressed.

“We want to make it as easy as possible to attend our games. Right now, that task is very difficult. We need you, our fans in the games both for revenue to help the club survive and to create a great atmosphere.

“We are doing our best in these challenging times, to make the process as easy as possible.

“We realise there may be occasions of frustration, but we ask you to give your fullest consideration to all the circumstances, as instructions from above can change on the swipe of a pen!”