We do not believe football should be watched on TV; it should be attended live. It should be felt, it should be breathed, it should be lived. Football without fans is nothing. Fans without football are nothing!

RAMSGATE are offering a reduced admission price to all fans who are locked out of their clubs that play in the Premier League, EFL, National League and National League South.

Matt Longhurst’s side were due to travel over to Guernsey at the weekend but the hosts have pulled out of the Isthmian League owing to travel restrictions due to the coronavirus health pandemic.

However, Ramsgate are allowed to attract a maximum crowd of 400 to Southwood Stadium and the club are offering fans reduced admission of £5 to frustrated supporters who support other sides.

Dover Athletic were forced to issue an apology after their live streaming service cut out during their 1-0 win over Notts County on the opening day of the Vanarama National League season at the weekend.

Non-League football is all about watching our beloved teams on the terraces and fans of Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division sides Chatham Town and Sheppey United could possibly miss out on their FA Cup Third Qualifying Round ties on Tuesday 13 October as they have been drawn away to National League South sides Havant & Waterlooville and Eastbourne Borough respectively.

Those clubs at that level and those in league’s above have been classed as Elite by the UK Government and no one are allowed to watch them play in stadiums until further notice.

“Our offer extends to season ticket holders of elite clubs and non-league clubs due to play Guernsey,” said a Ramsgate statement.

““We were due to travel across the channel over to Guernsey for what is always a fantastic trip.

“Sadly, with our reserves and women also not playing, most of us spent the weekend sat at home watching Premier League football on TV.

“We know how much our fans missed football this weekend and we know many other teams will be going through the same thing this season.  Some just twice others, classed as “Elite”, for the foreseeable future.

“As a club, we do not believe football should be watched on TV; it should be attended live.  It should be felt, it should be breathed, it should be lived.  Football without fans is nothing. Fans without football are nothing.

“As a result, we have decided to offer £5 entry to supporters of all clubs on the day that they were due to play against Guernsey.

“As well as this, we also extended the invitation to 2019-20 season ticket holders of clubs at Step Six and above (National Leagues, The English Football League and The Premier League.

“We also extend this offer to any Guernsey fan throughout the season, may that be a mainland-based fan or one that fancies a trip over once restrictions are hopefully lifted.”

So if you support Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic, Gillingham, Bromley, Dover Athletic, Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United, Dartford or the many other clubs that people support in the area, the offer is open to you all.

“It is time for clubs and fans to stick together,” added the statement.

To book tickets for Saturday’s match between Ramsgate and Three Bridges or any other Ramsgate matches up until January, please visit:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/RamsgateFC/CovidLockedOutOffer

Meanwhile, had Chatham Town or Sheppey United been drawn at home in The FA Cup then their attendance would have been restricted to 300.

There are calls to increase crowd numbers to 1,000 and for the three divisions of The National League to 2,000 as clubs have been coping with all protocols that they have to follow since the restart.

If Prime Minister Boris Johnson is allowing people to attend indoor cinemas then he should #letfansin to watch our beloved non-league and EFL football clubs before they sadly go out of business.

Visit Ramsgate’s website: www.ramsgate-fc.co.uk