Football Association issues reminder about non-league pre-season friendlies

All non-league friendlies must be played behind closed doors, the FA has said.

The message comes after some clubs allowed supporters into stadiums over the weekend. A small number of fixtures had more than 100 fans attend.

By not complying with this rule, it puts the long-term plan of allowing supporters to return to stadiums “at risk.”

As a result, the FA has extended behind closed doors restrictions to also include step seven clubs, until further notice.

Chesterfield have away friendlies against Clipstone (August 25, 7pm) and Belper Town (September 8, 7.30pm) confirmed so far.

Meanwhile, the FA has submitted a proposal to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to allow for fans to attend National League fixtures when the new season starts on October 3.

Last week the government cancelled planned pilot sports events which would have seen people attend horse racing and cricket.

In a letter to clubs, head of National League System for the FA, Laurence Jones, said they are continuing discussions with DCMS, but admitted: “The suspension however of the pilot events which had low spectator numbers shows that government are sensitive to crowds of all sizes and as such, crowds at pre-season matches does put the longer term supporters strategies at risk.”

In other news, the Chesterfield FC Junior Academy will be running a Summer Football Camp every Wednesday during the summer holiday for nine to 12-year-olds at Gosforth Playing Fields in Dronfield (S18 8NP), from 10am to 3pm. It costs £15 per session and you can just turn up on the day.