Following the Covid-19 precautions pilot fixture v Enfield Borough earlier this week, the club’s board have discussed what went well and where improvements should be made. Before the first competitive fixture of the 2020-21 season against Lewes at the QEII Stadium on Saturday (19th September), supporters are urged to digest the following, in order to help establish, mutually, the safest possible environment for this and subsequent home fixtures.
Tickets
There will be a strictly limited attendance capacity for this match. Please note:
* you are strongly advised to book your ticket online via https://shop.etfc.london/events as soon as possible as there are very few tickets left;
* there will be an announcement once the capacity has been reached and there are no more tickets available;
* there will be no admission on the day without a valid ticket. Please arrive as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time for your temperature to be taken and your ticket to be scanned. Please be patient if there is a queue.
As the season progresses, it is hoped that the club will be able to increase the capacity for subsequent matches. As advised elsewhere, upon booking an e-ticket you will be issued with a QR code for scanning at the turnstiles to help facilitate track and trace procedures.
Precautions
The club has been working hard to get all the necessary safety measures in place, including a comprehensive Covid-19 risk assessment and signage at the QEII Stadium. Nevertheless, all spectators need to be fully aware that attendance at the match will be entirely at their own risk. You must follow government guidelines and self-diagnose before travelling to the QEII Stadium. If you, or any of your household, are experiencing any symptoms which may be related to Covid-19 (eg high temperature, a new, continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste), you should not travel, and you should follow NHS advice.
At the match
At the stadium you agree to respect others, abide with social distancing guidelines and measures that the club have put in place, and follow all advice given by stewards. This is particularly important as the club considers the possibility of increased numbers at future matches, which will be dependent to the overall success of the staging of matches incrementally.
Please remember that the matchday experience at the QEII Stadium will not be as supporters will remember from last season. Following queuing in a socially distanced manner, you will have your temperature taken up on entry, and you should listen to and act upon all advice before, during and after the match from stewards, club officials and via tannoy announcements, as the club looks to do the right thing, with the safety of all in mind.
Please come prepared for inclement weather as there will be strict adherence to maintaining social distancing under the limited cover at the ground. There will be no hard copy programmes (e-versions will be available to buy online – or sent direct to #GoToTown subscribers as usual – shortly), and no golden goal or 50:50 tickets for the time being.
PLEASE ABIDE BY SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES!
Facilities
The main stand, Butler’s Bar and the club shop will remain closed for the time being. There will, however, be an external bar facility in front of the main stand, and Food Lovers Delight will be providing catering on a trial basis. Please ensure that you queue in an orderly fashion, maintaining social distancing, and that you come prepared to pay via a contactless card.
There will be strictly limited seating in the north stand (opposite the main clubhouse) and, to ensure effective social distancing, seats that should not be used will be clearly marked. Standing will be possible behind both goals but, again, with a significantly reduced capacity – with yellow markers for indicative standing positions on the steps only. Around the perimeter of the pitch, there will be social distancing markers on fence panels for ease of standing two metres apart. Parts of the ground will be subject to one-way systems for additional safety. Toilets will be subject to one-in, one-out measures. Please come equipped with a mask for enclosed spaces.
All these measures will be subject to ongoing review. Should there be any changes to match arrangements they will be announced as soon as possible.
Help
The club needs the help of every spectator in order to make the staging of home matches as safe as possible for everyone who attends at the QEII Stadium.
PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE MAKE ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS INCREMENTALLY AND, ABOVE ALL, PLEASE COMPLY WITH ALL OF OUR ADVICE!