Many of you may have seen a letter circulating from the FA yesterday and this morning providing further clarity around spectators at pre-season matches.

Nothing has changed as far as our scheduled matches are concerned. All of our pre-season fixtures, incuding the London Senior Cup tie with Balham, will take place behind closed doors and will not, unfortunately, be open for supporters to attend at the current time.

The letter reads:

We are writing to you today to provide some further clarity around the current position on spectators and pre-season matches. The guidance released by the FA on Saturday 18th July was clear that all friendlies with National League System Clubs should be played behind closed dorrs. This has not changed. Whilst it is difficult to restrict spectators at a grassroots football fixture on a public recreation ground, this spectator guidance relates to low level numbers such as parents at a youth fixture in discrete six person gatherings and spread out.

Over the weekend, as clubs returned to pre-season competitive fixtures, we understand some fixtures were played with spectators and, in a small number of cases, with a crown in excess of 100. The guaidance regarding gatherins is a clear Governement issued position and as such we must re-emphasise that ALL National League System pre-season fixtures should be played behind closed doors.

Due to evidence received over this weekend we now need to extend behind closed doors to Regional NLS Feeder League Clubs (Step 7) and this will also apply to pre-season matches played in an NLS or Regional NLS Feed League ground including, for example, County FA or League Cup Finals.

Some Clubs and leagues have also asked for further clarity on a couple of specific areas and we hope the following will be of use.

ALL friendlies involving Step 1 to Regional NLS Feed League Clubs should be played behind closed doors until further notice.

ALL pre-season or other matches held at Step 1 to Regional NLS Feeder League grounds, including for example, all County FA and League Cup Finals, should be played behind closed doors, until further notice.

Friendlies or other matches can have others not involved 'on the pitch' in the ground and this can provide for essential Club Officials only or, where an under 18 is playing in the fixture, a parent or guardian to fulfil safeguarding requirements. All must observe social distancing.

The FA resubmiited a proposal for spectators at National League System & Women's Pyramind games to DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport). You will be aware that Government suspended the test events for the return of spectators under Stage 5 of the Elite Sport Protocols, which much of the NLS does not fall under. As such we are continuing our dialogue with DCMS separately to the Stage 5 pilot project. The suspension however of the Pilot Events which had low spectator numbers shows that the Government are sensitive to crowds of all sizes and as such, crowds at pre-season matches does put the longer term supporter strategies at risk.

We are working continuously with the Sports Ground Safety Authority, DCMS, Leagues and colleagues within The FA to bring ultimate guidance for spectators to return as soon as possible. We are still hopeful of meeting the timescale outlined in our initial guidance, but we do need to do so with the approval or support from Government and therefore during this time we ask for your support.