The New Season

[Gone_Shrimping]

We start away at Cheltenham , a tough game.

[Bristol Shrimp]

Definitely a good test to start off. Barrow at home December 1st

[paschahound]

Some interesting timings in that. Bradford at home for the last day of the season could be very interesting indeed.

Some fixtures could have worked out better though. The EFL Trophy has Manchester as our third game, just like it was with Sunderland so we may well be already out by then. The Boxing Day fixture is Grimsby rather than a local rival and the Easter games are both against southern teams.

It's great to see the fixture list though and games are going to be coming thick and fast this year.
Now eagerly awaiting iFollow to release the subscription plan.

[P/T Indie]

Lots of the teams who will bring big away following more in the second half of the season which is good.

The only home league game in September is Cambridge so not to bad and then hopefully by October time fans will be allowed in again.

[Little Shrimp]

Aside from the bank holiday fixtures, all in all pretty good.

September behind closed doors fixtures are pretty crap which is good really. Only home games are Rochdale in the Tinpot Trophy and Cambridge, so no big loss in home gate etc as they're not particularly exciting.

More of our 'big' local games are theoretically when fans are allowed back - albeit home only for probably at least half a season. Bradford at home on the final day is pretty tasty, especially if we do end up higher in the table. Fingers crossed we can have away fans for that!

[ChrisC]

Seems strange that Barrow is a night match rather than a Bank Holiday fixture!

[RedRedWine]

I've seen a few people react negatively to the fixtures.... not sure they could've been much better for us to be honest in the current climate. Consider that currently clubs are working through implementing their protocols to operate safely, and that an early/mid October date for stadiums to host fans is slated, and that initially at least no away fans will be allowed to attend games (likely to be a temporary measure, but could last all season).

We get some of our less attractive games out of the way initially (by design, clubs requested this apparently) and some of the more local games are later on in the year when hopefully we can attend. Due to the late start in the season and the continuation of all cup competitions, there was always going to be more Tuesday night games. Many of these are local, which under normal circumstances most people would prefer them to be on Saturday.... but these aren't normal circumstances. Salford, Carlisle and Bolton away on Tuesday nights are all doable with a late dash from work, that is if we are allowed to attend at all - but again the fixtures have seemingly been constructed so that it gives us the best chance of being able to do that. Carlisle is a bad one for a Tuesday, as no trains home for those that don't drive.... but the other local ones should be fine.

Feel for the hardy souls that usually travel to the likes of Exeter on a Saturday (which is now on a Tuesday), but in the new year, when some measures may have been relaxed, having games that are a reasonable commune will give the majority of fans the opportunity to attend. Highlights for me are Harrogate and Walsall away on Saturdays in the new year - Harrogate will be a get weekend, just like York was a few years ago.

It would have been nice to have a 'derby' game on Boxing Day (we have Grimsby), but these festive games usually draw a ground anyway - better to play those types of games in the new year when we could potentially host an away following. The important thing is that we have a home game on Boxing Day, regardless of the opponent - and we should be able to go all being well. I think it worked out well for Barrow (also at home boxing day to Cheltenham), I'm sure they'd rather have a home game vs an away game that they might not be able to attend.

[redrobo]

The longest away trip of the season sees us at Exeter on Tuesday January 26 when the weather could be a factor as to whether the game is on. Don't fancy our fans travelling all that way for the game to be called off prior to kick off (obviously the worst scenario but could happen). Can never understand the logic in the longest trip of the season being mid week.

Other than that I think the fixtures early season have worked in our favour with limited home games.

I suspect that there may be a possibility of limited number being allowed into the stadium which if the Government say 50% of capacity will work in our fvaour as well.

[RedRedWine]

Limitations on capacity are set by individual clubs based on a number of factors, driven by ground layouts and facilities. Its not an arbitory percentage of your clubs maximum capacity and then applied across the board.

As the club has a relatively modern stadium, it might be the case that we have a higher capacity percentage available. I know the club is currently working through the safety protocols to ensure they can operate safely, but I wouldn't expect any club to be operating at anywhere near 50% capacity.

If we can have 2,000 capacity (30% ish) that should be manageable initially based on historic attendances.... Especially if there are no away fans, which is thought to be part of the protocols initially as a temporary measure.

[jbc.shrimp]

Who is it that set's out the OWS match list ?,they still have us at globe arena.