Saturday’s visit of Chelsea marks the first occasion Evertonians have been allowed back to watch a match at Goodison Park since March.

Ahead of what feels like a first, crucial step in the hopeful return of footballing normality, a group of Fans’ Forum members (Nick, Steve, Dawn and myself) were invited to attend a stewards briefing at Goodison to understand more about what fans can expect this weekend and in the coming weeks.
 
Have a ‘Game Plan’
 
What was evident from the visit and briefing was just how much work the Club has undertaken to make Goodison Park COVID-safe and ready for the return of fans. Everton’s Head of Security, Dave Lewis, explained to us the part that we need to play as fans; not just on a matchday but also in the build-up, too.
 
The Club has launched a campaign called ‘The Game Plan’, which will provide us with up-to-date public health guidance we will all need to follow to ensure matchdays run smoothly. It’s clear that the Club are asking fans to have a plan for how we attend matches. This starts in the build-up to matchday, by taking a COVID test and submitting a health questionnaire.
 
Testing is only required for fans attending the match if they are over 12 years of age and more asymptomatic testing sites are becoming available across the City Region; but please make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get tested. The advice is do it the day before but, as our first match is on a Saturday evening, you may be able to take advantage of this and get tested on Saturday morning. Everton were very insistent that if you can’t produce confirmation of a negative test, you are not getting in. For those in the stadium on Saturday, you will hopefully feel reassured that fellow Blues around you have also tested negative.
 
The preparation for a game extends beyond just getting a test. If you’re picked out in the ballot you will receive a Supporters’ Code of Conduct and a health questionnaire. Before coming to the game you need to have submitted acceptance of the Supporters’ Code of Conduct and completed your questionnaire online. If you haven’t done either of those things, again, you won’t be getting into Goodison Park and could then be holding up other Blues, so it’s worth spending a few minutes getting them done before the deadline, which is midday on Friday (11 December).
 
Getting to Goodison
 
There is no real advice for how to get to Goodison apart from to do it safely and always maintain your social distance. Public transport is available but please follow all the safety guidelines given by the transport operator. If you are driving to the game, it is advised that you maintain your own social bubble. We were told by the Club that there will be a number of the usual car parks open for fans to use. Disabled supporters attending on Saturday and requiring a car parking space need to get in touch with the Club’s Disability Liaison Officer at their earliest possible convenience.

 
Arriving at the stadium
 
It will look and feel like a very different matchday. There won’t be the usual sea of fans on Goodison Road 20-30 minutes before kick-off. Supporters attending the fixtures will be allocated an arrival time which will be staggered in 15-minute intervals. Supporters chosen in the ballot will also receive a stadium map showing which turnstiles they will need to use to access their seats.
 
From the stewards briefing, it was obvious that there are going to be a lot of checks taking place. It is hoped supporters stick to the arrival times given to them and this will hopefully reduce any large queues. The Club will have a number of staff and stewards on-hand to make sure the security checks are done as efficiently and as quickly as possible. Dave Lewis and his team have reminded us to inform fans they need to bring with them their valid match ticket, photo ID, proof of your negative coronavirus test – this will be on your phone in a text or an email – and a facemask, which must be worn at all times.
 
In the stadium 
 
Once in the stadium, the Club has devised a one-way system that we will all need to adhere to. Fans are being advised to take up their seat and not to stand or gather in the concourses for safety reasons. If you do need to leave your seat, please follow the advice of the stewards and signs telling you the entry and exit routes for your stand. The advice in the Supporters’ Code of Conduct suggests that when moving past other fans you should avoid face-to-face contact and sanitise your hands after touching your face, as well as handles, railings and other surfaces. The Club are also suggesting you can bring your own hand sanitiser but this has to be in bottles no more than 50ml in volume.
 
There is nothing to stop us being vocal in our support, and I would like to think that this will boost our players. However, the Club and public health authorities are urging we do this while wearing our facemasks; not taking them off, or moving them down.
 
As a Forum, we have received some enquiries from fans as to why the Club has chosen the Gwladys Street and Top Balcony. We raised this with the Club, who explained that due to Premier League protocol these are currently the only stands they can use. Concourses on the Bullens make it difficult to maintain social distance, the Park End can’t be used due to the away team changing room behind the stand, the Family Enclosure is being used by players from both sides, while members of the media and Directors from both sides are in the Main Stand. We have been assured that the best possible seats from both the Gwladys Street and Top Balcony will be in use, while also ensuring social distancing measures are in place. This means that there will be at least two seats between yourself and the person next to you, as well as the rows in front and behind being empty, too. 
 
A fair ballot
 
Having spoken to the Club about the ballot process, it is clear that it is one of, if not the, fairest and inclusive processes in the Premier League. For example, for this Chelsea game, 93% of the 2,000 capacity tickets will be going to Season Ticket Members.

There had been concern from some fans that supporters who managed to get a Chelsea ticket may also have a chance of getting an Arsenal or Manchester City ticket in the next ballot. I used this opportunity to pass some of those concerns on and was categorically told this would not be the case. The lucky fans that attend Goodison Park on Saturday to watch us play won’t have the opportunity to return until at least every eligible Season Ticket Member has been to watch a game.
 
The Club has also engaged with disabled supporters, who are also part of the ballot, with ambulant seats and wheelchair positions in the Gwladys Street being used, as well as wheelchair bays in the Main Stand North platform.
 
Stay safe
 
I’d like to thank Dave Lewis, Rachel Meikle and their colleagues at the Club for taking the time to include us in their briefing in what is a busy and unprecedented period.
 
Although I have not been drawn to attend the game on Saturday, I really look forward to hearing the noise that 2,000 Blues will make as opposed to silence or the piped in atmosphere. Please stay safe and follow the advice that has been provided. Doing so will allow you to make loads of noise, get behind the lads - and let’s hopefully cheer them on to the three points.
 
Hopefully, if we can show that this can be done safely, it may lead to more fans being able to attend, from Liveprool City Region and beyond, while also increasing the numbers for each match, too.
 
UTT!
 
Jazz Bal
Everton Fans’ Forum