The Return of Supporters to the Terracing?

As has been widely documented and reported including on our social media channels, the Chief Executive of the SPFL has written to the First Minister in very passionate terms today requesting at the very least urgent face to face talks about the return of fans at all 42 SPFL grounds in the near future.

This follows on the new relaxation of the rules forbidding supporters attending games down south as from December 2^nd, although to be fair it still remains to be seen how many of the clubs will be able in the first instance to take advantage of this scenario.

This will depend on how many find themselves in the English tier one or two systems.

It has to be said and slightly disappointingly, although we realise opinion will be mixed, Ms. Sturgeon was fairly dismissive of the appeal when questioned at her lunch time press conference, but no doubt more dialogue will take place both confidentially and other wise in the days to come.

As far as the Directors, Management and Players of Forfar Athletic are concerned and with no wish to get involved or take sides in any political debate, they would be all in favour of a quick return of spectators and in fact in the last club update to supporters a couple of weeks back suggested that it would be a nice festive present to season ticket holders in the first instance, if they were allowed admittance to the Boxing Day fixture against Cove Rangers at Station Park.

It has to be stressed that this is not a position that the club takes based on financial implications but purely in the first instance on fan engagement and the return of at least a little bit of atmosphere on match day to replace the current austere set up that the players of all sides are having to ply their trade in current circumstances.

At our level of the game and taking the layout of many of the grounds, it would be likely as is in fact the case up in the Highlands due to their tier one status at present, attendance would probably be restricted in the first instance to a maximum of around 300.

This would mean at Forfar for example that initially and depending on take up, admittance at the outset would be restricted to season ticket holders only and those patrons have very kindly long since forked out their hard earned cash in support of the ‘Loons’ cause.

With all other match day income streams likely to be on hold in the early stages into the bargain, that would mean no extra income would be derived by the club.    This is a point that was also emphasised in various television interviews with lower league club officials south of the border yesterday as well.

In fact on the other side of the ‘coin’ it would in fact probably mean more expenditure, but if the opportunity arose it would be money well spent.

Only time will tell and we do appreciate that some supporters may not wish to return at this juncture and that view would indeed be respected.

However rest assured when the ‘green light’ is given and all relevant protocols are in place whenever that may be, there will be a warm welcome awaiting as the gates are once again opened at Station Park.