Club Chief Executive Brad Groves has spoken today to express his desire for Boxing Day’s fixture between Spennymoor Town and Darlington FC to be an occasion for non-league football.
He said: “With Darlington set to visit The Brewery Field over the festive period, I think it’s important to stress that this fixture should be a memorable day for football fans in the North East.
“Lessons have been learned from Darlington supporters’ previous visit to The Brewery Field in 2020. I think it’s clear that some honest mistakes were made from Spennymoor Town’s side in the build up to the game.
“First of all, the decision not to make it an all-ticket occasion was a mistake and played a part in a higher number of Darlington fans in the segregated area of the ground than was anticipated. We’ve obviously implemented far stricter ground entry requirements for this year’s fixture and limited the number of tickets available in both home and away ends.
“The previous pricing structure which categorised games into A and B fixtures was, in hindsight, the wrong call, which has now been amended under the Affordable Football For All strategy and we have made this season’s tickets cheaper for non-season ticket holders and Darlington supporters.
“We now offer the best match day package in non-league football and can provide travelling Darlington supporters with unrivalled prices and facilities in the away end with their own fan zone, catering, bar and toilet facilities. Together, this makes Spennymoor Town a safe and enjoyable experience for any visiting supporter.
“There was also a small contingent of Darlington supporters last time who let their club down with their behaviour.
“Having worked with Darlington, we do not expect those people to be able to attend this season’s fixture.
“We have worked hard to ensure that all of this contributes to a safe and enjoyable visit for Darlington supporters and a memorable occasion on the pitch for both sets of fans to enjoy. I would stress that everyone reads our Covid-19 procedures and anyone who feels unwell does not attend the match.”
Covid-19 measures
Spennymoor Town Football club has consistently the placed safety of supporters, staff, players, their families and the community as a priority.
There is a fine balance to be found between safety and sensible precautions.
Our message at this time is for all to take personal responsibility to keep our family and friends safe.
- If you feel unwell (cough, temperature, loss of taste) please do not attend a fixture or event.
- We would encourage Lateral Flow Testing in advance of planned attendance. (NHS Guidance)
- Please respect the views of others in wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
There is a commitment by the club to reimburse all supporters who are unable to attend as a result of following these measures.
