With a limited numbers of supporter permitted back into stadiums, David Artell says that is a ‘step in the right direction’ to bringing some sort of normality back to everyday life.
Crewe Alexandra will be welcoming our permitted number of 2,000 supporters back for our home game against Northampton Town on Saturday 12th December.
Fans have not been allowed into stadiums since the outbreak of coronavirus in the early part of the year.
David Artell told the club’s official website: “Of course, it is a step in the right direction. It is great for all those clubs that are allowed some of their fan base back.
“It is massive for the community and hopefully local businesses can get some passing trade as well.
“We also have to be cautious because the virus is still out there and let’s not forget that clubs did welcome fans back and it lasted for one game. We were all set to do a pilot game and did all the planning for that and then that got cancelled.
“We have done everything we can to get fans back as safely as possible and it is has been hard for people not to watch their team live.
“It was the same for everyone but it was weird at the beginning to play without the fans there. It must have been strange for the players because I wouldn’t have thought many of them have played a competitive fixture behind closed doors before. I never did in my career and it is usually handed out as a punishment.
“No-one knew what the impact would be and it was a very sterile environment to play in and be involved in at the beginning.
He added: “Hopefully, by having 2000 fans back in, it will bring some normality to life and help every single club. We need the fans back and it will make a massive difference to have a number of them back for Northampton and then going forward.”