Jo Bailey is from FSA associates West Ham United Women Supporters’ Club and she was kind enough to pull together a video highlighting her experiences on Saturday (12th September 2020).

To read this article in full please click here.

Maggie Murphy, general manager at Lewes FC, has written of the club’s experiences in being the first to host the return of fans in the elite women’s game. Their experience will be vital to clubs looking to see how they can manage the safe return of supporters, as well as to fans themselves in finding out what they can expect…

To read this artcle in full please click here.

On behalf of EFL Chair, Rick Parry, the EFL has provided the following update:

Following the successful return of supporters to seven fixtures on Saturday, the EFL is disappointed at yesterday’s decision to suspend plans for the return of fans to matches.

Of course we recognise that the UK is facing a significant public health crisis and that sport has to play its part in helping the Government manage the spread of the virus at this difficult time. This is why over many months we have helped the Government devise, refine and pilot stringent stadium protocols designed to keep supporters safe. Staging professional football matches is one of the most heavily regulated areas of crowd management and any supporters attending EFL fixtures, in vastly reduced numbers, would have been required to adhere to social distancing and the rule of six. To see this statement in full please click here.

There is less than a month to go to the eagerly awaited start to the new season, the 12th September, a week after the first round of the League Cup, or Carabao Cup as it's called these days, with City facing Bolton Wanderers away. And with a list of new signings at City, there is great anticipation in the air for success, in Stuart McCall and Kenny Black's full season since their return in February earlier this year.

But in the period of Covid 19 how will fans be returning to VP?

Indeed the Club have publicly updated supporters on this recently about it's 'City For All' season ticket plans, and they have kept it at the affordable £150 with the pass to watch all home matches via the EFL ifollow streaming network and return to watch matches from the Saturday 3rd October. Season tickets will be split into 2 sections - claret or amber meaning fixtures will be divided into those categories so that fans can watch every other game. The Club are expecting to reduce their capacity to 7,000, and it is hoped that they can sell approximately 14,000 season tickets.

There maybe the opportunity to attend or watch City's home matches on a match by match basis if season ticket sales don't reach the expected target.

Check out the latest on the 'City for All' season ticket offer here. The deadline for renewing our season tickets is the 6th September.

The Trust agrees that this is a fair way forward. We think that there will be a good uptake for the season tickets, and we hope the Club reaches its target. We do note, however, there will be fans who may not feel safe to attend matches for the foreseeable future in these uncertain times but we are sure that there will be a tremendous solidarity for the Club, and even if some fans feel they can't go they will still buy the season tickets. We have seen this solidarity support with the record sales on the new season's replica home shirt.

The Club have been consulting with the EFL and the local Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) about how fans will be attending matches. This will be broadly based on Government guidance document accessible here, and the SGSA's guidance document here.

Key match day experience features

Track and trace and appointment times will come from allocated ticket when purchasing season tickets.

There will be a clear designated one way entry and exit system.

Rules and regulations have been suspended around food and drink because concourses need to be clear for the duration of the match so there will be no kiosks open.

Rules and regulations have been suspended about away fans so the Club have decided not to have them in for the foreseeable future. City are not the only club to have done this. We had a expected a temporary reduction on the number but not a temporary ban. And whilst the vast majority of League Clubs don't bring a lot to VP anyway, it is unfortunate as this may restrict travel opportunities even further for City fans. When it comes to atmosphere, away fans can create the better atmosphere and that is notable when it comes to City's traveling army.

At the same time, if fans can't get to away games we do have the opportunity to watch all away fixtures at £10 per match via iFollow.

We understand that the consultation process around the detail of the Covid guidance for fans' return to stadiums would take time. Inevitably this has delayed the Clubs' announcement of its' 'City For All' season ticket plans, impacting possibly on some fans struggling to find the money, and had already made its' decisions by the time it consulted the Supporters Board. What is clear to us is that their plans around the Corona Virus are a moving feast and the best laid plans can change due to the ever changing situation, therefore the Trust looks to being involved at then next Supporters Board meeting in earnest. The minutes of the August Supporters Board can be viewed here.

If you are worried about attending matches or you want to ask a question about season tickets or match day experience that is not on the Clubs' Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), or, the Clubs' Supporters' Code Of Conduct, and, or you feel that your needs may not be met, why not ask us HERE, and we can email those queries to them and present them to the Club and the next Supporters Board meeting.

Best wishes and stay safe.

From all of us on the Bantams Supporters Trust Board

In a recent FSA Club Fans Reps meeting we discussed the EFL assurances in terms of clubs involving fans groups in genuine consultation regarding all aspects of the return to live football.

Below is a Fans Charter that the EFL assurances and a checklist of questions for fans' organisations and groups to ask clubs.

EFL Fans Coronavirus Matchday Charter

The EFL backs the right of supporters' groups to be involved in genuine consultation with their clubs regarding all aspects of the return to live football.

The EFL supports a fair phased return. No pricing band should receive priority above another.

The EFL recognises the unprecedented nature of recent events and acknowledges that the suspension of the Saturday 3pm blackout, might continue for iFollow only until all fans can return. New kick-off slots, enhanced TV "crowd" noise, quarterly drinks breaks and additional ID measures for match-goers, are temporary measures and not permanent fixtures.

Club checklist (for fan organisations and groups to ask Clubs):

Is your club consulting all representative supporters' groups in line with the Coronavirus Matchday Charter? It should be.

How is your club managing loyalty points during the phased return? The FSA EFL Network advocates the temporary suspension on the accrual of loyalty points with a review once this period is over. No fan should be punished if they are unable to attend football during this period because of underlying health concerns or financial issues.

Does your club have a clear pro-rata refund policy for future seasons should those seasons be disrupted?

Do season ticket holders have the opportunity to hold their seats without purchase until such a time they feel safe? Clubs must liaise with fan groups on these and related matters. Policy on this matter must be readily accessible, easy to find and transparent.

Has your club consulted fans on affordability? These are unprecedented times and many supporters will find themselves financially stretched. The FSA EFL Network believes clubs should use this as an opportunity to explore new concessionary pricing measures and ticketing initiatives, preferential financing including direct debit schemes, and/or price freezes.

Has your club consulted with supporters on which supporters will return to the stadium should capacity be restricted? Clubs need to publish a fair and transparent system and the criteria on how supporters were picked.

Has your club planned out how it will share relevant public health information regarding the safe return of supporters? Clubs should aim to share advice and expertise in a transparent way.

Good examples of positive engagement during COVID 19 - Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Portsmouth, Luton, Rochdale, Accrington, Exeter, Grimsby.

Earlier this month the Trust moved in quickly to sponsor Kenny Black who will be working alongside Stuart McCall this season until at least the end of this season.

Kenny, had previously supported Stuart at Motherwell as Assistant Manager from 2011 up until Stuart left at the end of 2014, and the pair reunited at City in the same roles between 2016 and 2018,

We hope he is successful in his career at City and that his contribution collectively with Stuart can help bring us a memorable season to cheer about.

You can see our logo alongside him here.