Football fans across south west London will be able to return the terraces after the Government announced the capital will have Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions from 2 December.
Fans of Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brentford and Queen’s Park Rangers do not have long to wait as they will welcome back the masses to their home grounds in the next month.
Title-chasing Chelsea will be amongst the first to welcome back the Blues faithful with their home game against Marcelo Bielsa’s entertaining Leeds side on Saturday.
Their close rivals Fulham will be at a slightly lower capacity due to renovations to Craven Cottage and are looking to welcome 1,500 fans to their home match against Premier League champions Liverpool on the 13 December.
The remaining of south west London’s top flight sides, Crystal Palace, will be in action the same day with a mouth-watering London derby against top-of-the-table Tottenham.
Lower down the leagues, Brentford will be at home to Blackburn on Saturday, whilst QPR will have to wait until 12 December to face Reading at Loftus Road.
AFC Wimbledon have yet to confirm a date for their first attended game at their new Plough Lane stadium because the necessary sign-offs to allow the return have been delayed due to the coronavirus.
In non-league football, the announcements for the first games to feature fans to return is a little more complicated with many not being able to confirm a date thus far.
Dulwich Hamlet, Sutton United, and Hampton & Richmond Borough have all welcomed the news but are yet to confirm an opening date.
Hampton and Richmond confirmed there is likely to be a staggered return for fans during December and beyond, with the Beavers’ next home game on Saturday against St Albans.
Sutton United posted a detailed explanation of the arrangements that it has to make to allow fans back into home games, and is hopeful to clarify when that will be possible after a meeting with the National League tomorrow.
Featured image credit: Kirk Pritchard
