Allowing fans in is such a huge boost

DERBY County Women CEO Duncan Gibb says the decision to allow fans into stadiums is imperative for the good of the game.

The Ewe Rams have had four home games since the league season began in late September and have seen an increase in regular crowd numbers, with local football allowed spectators into their games.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have fans allowed into our games via a very set number of procedures that we’ve put in place to ensure everyone’s safety at our matches,” said Gibb.

“As a club, it has taken a lot of work to get them in place but, for us, it’s the least we can do,

“I think getting fans back to games has to be a priority moving forward. We’ve seen ourselves that football is great for getting back some normality in our lives.

“When we speak to the fans coming through the gate, they are really thankful that they are getting to watch some football in a safe place. We have that down to a tee at the club and, thankfully, we have had no issues.”

Crowds at Ewe Rams games have been among the highest in the country at their level and the impact on the players is not lost on Gibb.

“One of the most pleasing aspects for me is that the players are noticing and commenting to us about the numbers coming through the gate and that it is having a huge positive effect on the squad,” he said.

“They are seeing new faces who are then returning for other games and that is what we are hoping to achieve. We like to think of ourselves as welcoming and it’s great to see those new fans regularly attending and becoming like our regular fans, part of the team.

“Of course we’d always like more and we’re not at our capacity of what we are allowed as yet but we still don’t know how long it will be until fans are allowed into professional matches, so getting people to support local teams is the aim.

“The simple fact is that football needs fans. We are seeing all these debates and what we need is consistency across the sector.

“Clubs at our level have plans in place for the safe return of some fans to games, so with the bigger budget professional teams have, I have no doubt it will be well managed and it needs to happen soon or clubs will be in danger of disappearing from their communities.”

Derby County Women take on Burnley Women tomorrow in the FA Women’s National League Northern Division at Mickleover FC with a 2pm kickoff. This match is all-ticket and they can be purchased at therams/dcfcwtickets.