An expert on safety at football grounds believes the current situation at Harrogate Town could damage the reputation of the club if fans are unable to buy tickets to the season opener on Saturday due to safety concerns at the EnviroVent Stadium.
With less than four days until kick-off, frustrated Town fans are in the dark about whether they can attend the League Two opener on Saturday afternoon against Rochdale AFC.
It’s the same for Rochdale supporters who have taken to social media to criticise Harrogate Town with some saying they have bought train tickets and booked hotels.
Playing the game in front of an empty ground would be a major embarrassment for the Wetherby Road club who will shortly begin their second-ever season in the English Football League.
“Unacceptable risks”
North Yorkshire County Council banned fans from attending a friendly against Sunderland on July 24 after identifying 17 “unacceptable risks” for fan safety at the club’s EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road. These included problems with the CCTV system, the ground’s control room and stewarding.
It’s unclear if these issues can be overcome in time for Saturday’s kick-off.
Martin O’Hara, national council member for the Football Supporter’s Association and chair of the South Yorkshire Police Independent Advisory Group that is responsible for ground safety, told the Stray Ferret that if NYCC bans fans from attending it would damage the reputation of the club.
He added:
“It is very unusual that a club wouldn’t be allowed to open it’s gates at the start of the season.”
Read more:
- Council: 17 ‘unacceptable risks’ at Harrogate Town forced us to ban fans
- Harrogate Town fans fear season opener will be played behind closed doors
Mr O’Hara said there are “generally workarounds” for safety problems at grounds but it remains to be seen if expensive and complex systems such as CCTV can be rectified in time.
He also said the uncertainty raises questions about the status of the hundreds of season tickets that have been sold.
Mr O’Hara added:
“I would expect there to be a lot going on behind the scenes with the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) at the council, the local police and the club”.
What needs to happen?
The safety standards at football grounds are set by the government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
These are included in a document called “The Green Guide” that has been written by regulator the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA).
The SGSA issues guidance to council SAGs and has its own inspectors who work with them. Before each fixture, the local authority issues a safety certificate and enforces the safety standards.
Harrogate Town released the following statement this afternoon:
“The club are continuing to work with the Safety Advisory Group and Sports Ground Safety Authority to ensure supporters are able to attend Saturday’s EFL opener against Rochdale. As soon as any further information is available it will be communicated.”
