Some of Kent’s non-league teams are getting behind a national campaign to “let fans in”

While the summer heatwave has seen crowds flock to the beaches football clubs in Kent who are desperate for revenue are being forced to keep their gates closed.

Clubs have been playing local pre-season friendlies since the start of the month but games must be played behind closed doors.

The Southern Counties East Football League are planning to restart their season on Saturday, September 5 - shortly after the opening qualifying round of the FA Cup - but have warned clubs this will be delayed if no crowds are allowed in.

Isthmian League games are due to begin on Saturday, September 19.

FA competitions, including the FA Cup, Trophy and Vase, which are planned to start in September, will come with prize money and even losing sides are compensated but there will be no such benefits for league matches, where clubs will miss out on vital matchday revenue.

Pre-season is also an opportunity for clubs to raise funds early on, with fans missing the chance to see their new players in action, usually against local rivals. The likes of Faversham Town, Chatham Town and Folkestone Invicta have in recent years also benefited from bumper crowds for friendly games against the likes of Gillingham.

Newly appointed Kent FA chair Denise Richmond, said: “On a personal note I find it a bit strange because at some of the SCEFL games you can make sure they are spread out.

“People can go into pubs and restaurants, and if clubs manage it well I don’t understand why they can’t have spectators.”

Non-league clubs have been going through their own risk assessments, with volunteer Covid-19 officers appointed to oversee things.

Cray Wanderers, who play in the Premier Division of the Isthmian League, just one step below the National League South have nine pre-season games lined up between this Saturday and September 8.

They have backed the #letfansin campaign and said: “Many of us involved in non-league football do what we do for the fans and the communities we serve. Without you there it means little.”

Herne Bay have been vocal too, using social media to get their message across. In a tweet addressed to health secretary Matt Hancock, the FA and the government's department for digital culture, media and sport (DCMS), they have asked them to act now, to “help prevent any club suffering any potential financial ruin and allow people to enjoy the experience of non-league football again in the safest of environments.”

Current FA and DCMS guidance states that no fans are allowed at games involving step one to seven sides, which goes as far as the Kent County League.

Herne Bay are planning to live stream their midweek friendly against Fisher. Maidstone United did the same at the weekend for their development side’s friendly fixture, watched by over 1,000 people via YouTube. They said they were road-testing the technology.

National League side Maidstone are set to start their season in October. The club’s TV producer John Gooch said: “Nothing beats being at the Gallagher but in the short term streaming is a way of trying to fill that void and keeping fans close to the action.”

The government had said crowds could possibly return to mainstream sport events in October and had planned to let crowds into several sporting fixtures as a pilot. These were halted at late notice following an increase in Covid-19 cases.

County cricket is being seen as one sport to test the return of crowds and Kent Cricket, who played their first home game of the Bob Willis Trophy this week, are hoping to be involved. Chief exec Simon Storey said: “Whilst it’s disappointing that we are unable to welcome crowds, we have not given up our hope of allowing spectators into the ground as part of a pilot project, and our work with ECB is ongoing.”

National League side Dover Athletic - who ended the curtailed 2019/20 season as the highest ranked non-league team in the county - have already said they are on the brink.

Chairman Jim Parmenter says the club could fold and has put the entire team on the transfer list, available for free. A recent statement said: “If a solution or further investment cannot be found by the end of August it is likely that the directors will consider the club insolvent and as a consequence will be forced to cease trading.”

He says they are £250,000 short of where they need to be to balance the books.

Dover coach Darren Hare, meanwhile, visited the DAFC Academy this week and said: “In these difficult times our youth academy will be needed this season.”

Teams lower down the football pyramid are in less financial peril due to the fact most don’t have contracted players but do need income to pay the bills. Sponsors are vital but they will want their branding to be seen and locked gates don’t help.

Cray Valley PM have just renamed their home ground The Artic Stadium following a sponsorship deal and they’ve signed up to the evePASS app which can be used by anyone entering the stadium, including players, staff and eventually supporters, to help with the Track and Trace scheme. It’s hoped those kind of initiatives will help speed up the return of fans to stadiums.

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