How Eastbourne Borough CAN play in front of fans at Priory Lane

Langney Wanderers will host a pre-season friendly, kicking off at 7.45pm, and a maximum of 150 paying spectators will be able to enjoy the action, at a bargain price of £3 through the turnstiles. And providing the opposition will be Wanderers’ landlords, Eastbourne Borough.

The latest Government guidelines, issued last week, allow football clubs at Step 3 downwards – the Isthmian Premier and below – to admit paying spectators. But Steps 1 and 2, including Borough’s National South, still await that permission.

Rules, they say, were made to be – broken? Surely not. Ignored? Absolutely not. Or how about – interpreted? With guidelines changing almost daily, Borough are still denied paying spectators, but as long as Wanderers make all the match arrangements, the game can go ahead.

The Sports did play a friendly on Saturday, drawing 2-2 with Kent side Rusthall, but only club officials were permitted inside the ground. To ease loyal supporters’ frustration, the action was streamed live into the Priory Lane clubhouse. Rigorous safety procedures were in place, and will be repeated on Tuesday night. Temperatures will be tested and personal details taken at the entrance, with correct distancing in the main stand and on Priory Lane’s ample terracing.

The 150 limit – slightly arbitrary, perhaps – is based on a figure of 15% of the minimum capacity of a Southern Combination League ground. Langney Wanderers, together with counterparts Eastbourne United and Eastbourne Town, will look forward to a doubling of that figure to 30% from August 31 – just in time for Wanderers’ and United’s home FA Cup ties on Tuesday September 1.

The Sports must wait a further month before Danny Bloor’s reshaped side sees competitive action, entering the FA Cup at the later 2nd Qualifying stage on October 3.