Let Fans In Campaign: Oliver Dowden's important Covid update ignores the plight of our Non-League game

The Non-League football family remain baffled this morning with the continued disrespect being shown by the UK Government.

 

Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) issued a statement on his Twitter account last night and has completely ignored our Non-League game and has failed to give our club’s the green light so they can let fans in to watch their pre-season games.

With The FA Cup kicking off in the Extra Preliminary Round on Tuesday 1 September, the urgency to let fans’ in to our grounds has fallen on deaf ears once again.

“Important Covid update on DCMS areas. With everyone’s hard work we’ve continued to keep the virus under control so we can now allow more leisure, sport and cultural activities to reopen safely,” said Dowden.

“Leisure is open.  Casinos, bowling alleys, ice rinks and kids indoor/soft play areas to reopen with Covid-secure safety measures.

“These venues can reopen from 15 August. I know how hard these businesses have worked to make their places safe for everyone to enjoy.

“Sports events with fans, pilots with fans can now continue from 15 August, starting with the final of the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield.

“Indoor performances with socially distanced audiences will be permitted from this weekend. Another important step on the recovery of the arts, helped by our £1.57bn rescue package.  This Government is here for culture.

“And last but not least, business events and conferences will be permitted to resume from 1 October.  These are a really important driver of economic growth and crucial growth and crucial to city centre hospitality businesses."

Our beloved non-league football clubs are fighting for survival and all they ask for is to be given permission to LET FANS IN which will give them all a shot in the arm financially.

We remain baffled that you can watch an elite snooker match inside a theatre, go to the cinema, sit on a crowded beach, stand in a crowded pub but we are banned from attending a football match within the Non-League pyramid.

It is unfair that the UK Government are picking and choosing which industries reopen – and they are killing our clubs!

Clubs are invited to voice their views on this subject today so please can chairmen and managers email stephen@kentishfootball.co.uk.

#LetFansIn