ALBION THANK FANS FOR PLAN-B ASSISTANCE
Brighton & Hove Albion deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber has thanked fans and club staff for their assistance with the new Covid checks introduced at Wednesday night’s Premier League match with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the American Express Community Stadium.
Staff checked more than 49% of fans aged 18 or over on entry to the Amex for the Premier League match, with 92% of those fans checked showing a digital NHS Covid Pass to prove they were double vaccinated. Other fans relied on their international Covid passports, NHS letters, lateral-flow tests, or vaccine cards (although the cards are only acceptable for one more match).
Barber said, “The assistance from fans, including those of our visitors from Wolverhampton Wanderers, was exceptional and, while we were only required to randomly check 20% of those attending, a combination of randomly pre-selecting home fans for Covid pass checks, and a series of further random checks at turnstiles for home and away fans, allowed us to far exceed our target. We refused admission for just two supporters who were unable to demonstrate their Covid status.
“It’s a very encouraging start to what is, and will continue to be, a challenging process, and I would like to thank our supporters for their overwhelming support for the new measures, most of which we have been implementing since the season started in preparation and readiness for the possible imposition of the government’s Plan B.
“I’d also like to thank our staff, many of whom volunteered to work extra hours at last night’s match, and in the lead up to it, to provide us with extra support, worked incredibly hard to deliver Plan-B requirements at very short notice. Their professionalism across all areas was exceptional and I’m very grateful to them for their hard work.
“The willingness of supporters to cooperate with our staff and to comply with the new requirements helps us to keep everyone as safe as possible inside the stadium, and gives us confidence going forward that we can continue to welcome fans into the stadium while supporting efforts to protect the NHS at a critical time.”
The Plan-B measures will remain in place until further notice; the next home game is against Brentford on Boxing Day.
Brighton & Hove Albion deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber has thanked fans and club staff for their assistance with the new Covid checks introduced at Wednesday night’s Premier League match with Wolverhampton Wanderers at the American Express Community Stadium.
Staff checked more than 49% of fans aged 18 or over on entry to the Amex for the Premier League match, with 92% of those fans checked showing a digital NHS Covid Pass to prove they were double vaccinated. Other fans relied on their international Covid passports, NHS letters, lateral-flow tests, or vaccine cards (although the cards are only acceptable for one more match).
Barber said, “The assistance from fans, including those of our visitors from Wolverhampton Wanderers, was exceptional and, while we were only required to randomly check 20% of those attending, a combination of randomly pre-selecting home fans for Covid pass checks, and a series of further random checks at turnstiles for home and away fans, allowed us to far exceed our target. We refused admission for just two supporters who were unable to demonstrate their Covid status.
“It’s a very encouraging start to what is, and will continue to be, a challenging process, and I would like to thank our supporters for their overwhelming support for the new measures, most of which we have been implementing since the season started in preparation and readiness for the possible imposition of the government’s Plan B.
“I’d also like to thank our staff, many of whom volunteered to work extra hours at last night’s match, and in the lead up to it, to provide us with extra support, worked incredibly hard to deliver Plan-B requirements at very short notice. Their professionalism across all areas was exceptional and I’m very grateful to them for their hard work.
“The willingness of supporters to cooperate with our staff and to comply with the new requirements helps us to keep everyone as safe as possible inside the stadium, and gives us confidence going forward that we can continue to welcome fans into the stadium while supporting efforts to protect the NHS at a critical time.”
The Plan-B measures will remain in place until further notice; the next home game is against Brentford on Boxing Day.
