Welcoming Fans back to Nyewood Lane - Updated 08/09/20

[The Gupster]

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC COVID–19 MATCHDAY CHECKLIST AS OF 8th September 2020

ENTRY FOR SPECTATORS – For convenience and to minimise cash handling, spectators may purchase match tickets in advance on line via the club’s website (www.therocks.co.uk). This is our preffered option as this will speed up entry at the main gate and cover the track and trace element.
Entry to the ground for online Ticket Sales is via the Nyewood Lane entrance only so the ticket can be scanned in.

Season tickets can also be purchased here too.

Spectators are asked to assist the club in track and trace via evePass – this is a downloadable app or can be sourced by scanning the QR Code at the ground. There will be staff at the entrance to assist.

If you have purchased online tickets your track and trace is completed.

If you have not purchased a ticket you are asked to use evePASS.

If you are unable to buy online or use evePASS you are asked to sign the Track and Trace register on entry into the ground.

UNDER 16 SEASON TICKETS – For the first two games it has been decided to not offer this due to limited attendance and the uncertainty of how many fans that will be attending. Once we have gauged the uptake of ticket sales and passed the two test events the club will endeavour to get tickets available ASAP.

STEWARDING – Bognor Regis Town FC will provide matchday stewarding in the car park, and within the ground to ensure smooth undertaking of fixtures. Please respect their guidance and support.

CAR PARKING – There is no parking in the ground for spectators – please use the Sports Club. There will be no entry to the ground via car after 14:30 to allow fans to arrive and or the club to operate separate areas for online sales and cash sales at the turnstiles.

HAND SANITIZER - Hand sanitizer stations will be located on entry to the ground and the clubhouse, as well as soap water and drying facilities provided in toilets.

SOCIAL DISTANCING - All attendees will be asked to observe social distancing in line with government guidelines. It is the supporter’s responsibility to observe social distancing.

BAR AREA - The bar area will be managed by the staff at Seasons. This will be available pre-match, half time and full time. There are toilets in the bar. There will be clear guidance and signage for the safe use of the facility.

CANTEEN - There also a snack bar external to this which offers refreshments. Please note that to be served at the snack bar, customers must wear a face mask. Please observe social distancing at all times.

TOILETS - There are limited toilets within the ground. Please be patient and use a socially distancing “two in two out” policy. Remember to wash dry and sanitise your hands and dispose of waste in receptacles available.

Any Issues please contact:-
Club Secretary Simon Cook via [e-mail] or
Covid-19 Officer Ian Guppy via [e-mail]

Thank you for your Co-operation and enjoy your visit!

[mistral]

Lots of helpful information although having purchased a season ticket some while ago I was informed by the online ticketing site that the club would contact me when the season ticket was available to collect. Is this still the policy & if so is there a date in mind as to when I can collect. I appreciate there has been a lot to organise & probably still is so I'm certainly not complaining more seeking assurance that the situation is in hand.

[simonc]

Hi Mistral,
I have received the first batch of season tickets and we are about to start distributing them. If you can tell me your name, I can check to see if we have it ready for you.
Many thanks
Simon

[BBB]

Is there a spectator limit for the first home game? Sorry, lost track of all the rules as they have developed over time and what the current situation is.

[The Gupster]

Believe 300 for the initial first team game - whether friendly of league game but as always its subject to change and the Govt changes anything after yesterdays announcements.

[Dave Silk (ex shottermiller)]

We have all the rules and regulations for watching the games expertly explained but I am intrigued as to how social distancing can be activated in a great many non league club dressing rooms.
My local club in the CCL is a real pokey box as Simon will probably remember.

[gpman]

Will the new rule of no more than 6 people can be in a group affect the opening of grounds to the fans.
Also what about away day travel on the coach!

[fyfe1]

Great news and really looking forward to the start of the new season. If there is a maximum number of entrants, and you are selling tickets, how are you second guessing the number of Season ticket holders that turn up. Could we be in a situation where you turn away ticket holders or Season ticket holders?

[paul]

Very sensible and clear guidance - well done to all concerned. Let’s hope other clubs in our league have a similarly common sense approach. Similar to the query above, would it be possible to clarify the ‘priority’ with regards to entry at the game - if we are working to a capacity of 600 and there are, say, 100 people in the category of officials, volunteers, season ticket holders etc who rightly get first entry, if the club then sells, for example, 400 tickets online, would it be fair to assume that the first 100 to pay-on-the-day get into the ground and then it’s gates closed? What happens if we sell 500 tickets online?! Either way, I’m guessing that online ticket sales would have to stop before the gates open on the day so that the club knows how many they can let through the turnstiles.

[simonc]

Paul,

You have it pretty much correct. We will be allowed 600 spectators for our first matches. Obviously season ticket holders will be guaranteed entry. So far we have sold around 90 season tickets.
We will verify how many on line tickets have been purchased and clearly the balance will be allowed to pay at the gate to get in to the ground.

We went live yesterday afternoon with on line ticket sales and already have sold over 20 for the first match To purchase your on-line tickets just do so via the club’s website.

For the convenience of all supporters we will check how many on line tickets have been sold in the day or so before each game to be able to let you know how many available places remain that can be paid for at the gate.

A few other points:
Some season ticket holders have already informed us that they will be away on holiday and therefore will not be at the first match. This is extremely helpful as it allows us to allow additional people in.
We are really sorry to have had to suspend the free entry for kids promotion, but hope to be able to reintroduce this as soon as restrictions are relaxed.
We may have a home FA Cup match following the draw on Monday. If we do, details of On line ticketing will be on our website as quickly as possible.

Please feel free to pose any more questions!
Simon

[paul]

Thanks Simon, that’s very helpful. I appreciate you may not know this yet but do you anticipate it being possible to purchase online tickets (assuming they haven’t already sold out) on the morning of the game? It’d be very useful to fans like myself who are dotted around the south east (but aren’t season ticket holders) who would face a long and miserable drive home after being turned away at the gate! Also, in the event of a postponement, do the online sales simply get refunded or is there the option for the ticket to remain valid for the rearranged match? Many thanks.

[BBB]

Thanks for the update on numbers, as is. Unfortunately it looks like this may be changing before we get to a first game at the Lane.

[Rattlesnake]

I know they're the main spokesmen and figureheads in all this, and there are others sorting out this 'labour of love' who have remained anonymous, but the club's blessed to have Simon, Dave and Andy putting in the hours and headaches to get everything in place and provide the info to us. Big thanks to the three chaps and everyone else behind the scenes.

[statto]

In the event of a home draw in the FA Cup, will the ground be ready in time for the match on the 22nd? Or do we face the prospect of playing the tie elsewhere?

[Pete Helsby]

The ground will be ready.

[simonc]

Thanks to Paul, BBB, Statto (and of course Rattlesnake!),

Yes - we are very conscious of potential challenges for supporters who travel some distance to home matches. We are testing procedures currently and will confirm shortly whether online tickets will be on sale right up to kick off time, or whether they will need to close out 90 minutes beforehand. Either way, admission by cash payment will continue as normal as long as there is vacant capacity. We are also looking at adding payment at the turnstile by credit or debit card.

In the case of postponements, you have three choices:
- roll the ticket over for the rearranged date.
- use the credit for the next or a future home match
- have a full refund

Responding to BBB’s point, fortunately the FA and government have today confirmed that there will be no change to arrangements for matches at our level. Unless things go seriously wrong we can look forward to football again at The Lane very soon.

FA Cup: if we get a home draw the ground will be absolutely fine to host it. The goals are going in and pitch markings are being done on Sunday. The dugouts are being completed in the next day or so.
However, our new floodlights are being calibrated on Monday and Tuesday, so as a precaution if we have a home draw it will probably be scheduled for Wednesday 23rd.

There are a huge number of volunteers who have been working so hard over the last few months, and although it’s always difficult to cover everyone, special thanks must go to Simon Fyfe who has done a superb job in managing the contract with Stadium Solutions, who are building the stand. His efforts and expertise have not only saved the club a lot of money, but have ensured that the work will be completed on time. Brian, Gary and the team have produced a superb pitch which if possible is even better than in previous years.

Simon