Upcoming National League fixture to be played behind closed doors

An upcoming National League fixture between Wealdstone and Torquay United is to be played behind closed doors, confirmed on Thursday.

Wealdstone were told that all home matches must be played without spectators until the entire pitch perimeter barrier is replaced at the Grosvenor Vale.

The barrier was damaged in their 2-1 win over Dover last month, with a further incident happening in the Wrexham game.

Wealdstone hope to have completed the work in time for the their next home game, against Weymouth on the 12th of March.

All tickets purchased for Saturday’s game would be refunded on Thursday, the board of directors said.

WEALDSTONE STATEMENT:

It is with huge regret and disappointment we have to announce that our National League home fixture this Saturday against Torquay United must be played behind closed doors, with no spectators present.

On the 15th January 2022 during our National League home fixture against Dover Athletic, a section of the Pitch Perimeter Barrier failed. In collaboration with the local council and relevant safety authorities, we put in place a plan to mitigate the risk of this happening again whilst we worked in parallel to find and secure a company to replace the existing barrier in its entirety. This plan largely succeeded in our last home fixture against Wrexham but unfortunately there was a further incident in the final minute of the game when the visitors scored their winning goal.

Last night the club were surprised and disappointed to receive a letter from the local council with a prohibition notice informing us that home matches must be played behind closed doors, with no spectators admitted, until the remedial works to replace the entire Pitch Perimeter Barrier have been completed. Work had already commenced to secure the materials and labour required and we are doing everything possible to ensure the new fence is in place and tested in time for our next home fixture against Weymouth on 12th March 2022.

Tickets purchased for the game against Torquay United this Saturday will be automatically refunded today, any questions can be directed via email to our Ticket Office at tickets@wealdstonefc.com

This is a huge blow to the club and our supporters. Despite the pandemic, the club has invested £200,000 over the last 2-years on improving the stadium and supporter facilities. Spectator safety is of paramount importance and we will do whatever it takes in order to ensure this situation is resolved and look forward to welcoming Stones fans and visiting supporters back to The Vale as quickly as possible. We will keep our supporters updated as and when we have further news.

Social media users reacted on the upcoming National League fixture to be played behind closed doors…

I’m sure Spennymoor Town will help you out. They have a good fence supplier! pic.twitter.com/WjLxE9AGF2

— Andy Clarke (@AndyClarke5) February 24, 2022

@lukehunter8: Surely there’s a better solution than this? Travel booked weeks ago! Close the stand? Fix it!?

@HarrisonThorne5: Surely just don’t put any fans behind that part of the fence?

@Jonny___Jones: Tin.Pot. You either have to rearrange the game, or stream it.

@LeePayneTUFC: Put the fans in a different section. Not like you’re gonna sell out anyway! At the very least needs to be a live stream now

@TufcChris: Absolutely pathetic. Surely it gets called off? How is this fair for anybody?

@andygulls: Surely you could have worked out a better solution than that with the council? And then the next fairest option is to rearrange for another date?

@GullsSoc: Down with the Doverrrr

@BobbyBamber: I’d be in favour of instant relegation for this

@neilernest: Perhaps whilst doing this work you could add some more toilets in the away end.

@devonyellow: Exeter’s match was called off last week. Why isn’t the same applied here?

@thedanhorler: Tell me your club plays non-league football without telling me your club plays non-league football.

@_HarryAVFC: Surely should forfeit the match if their ground doesn’t meet standards.

@TORQUAYTALK: Bloody hell! Hopefully time to get a stream sorted please @WealdstoneFC#tufc

@TorquayFans1: Fucking joke

@Torquayhopper12: What an embarrassment of a decision, should either play the game somewhere else (Plainmoor is probably free) or postpone it. Unacceptable that it’s the fans who end up being punished

Leon Harper: Before covid this would have just been postponed but now because everyone’s got the behind closed doors in their heads they think it’s the norm what a joke

Steve Hunt: Why don’t they close that particular stand? It’s not as if they’re gonna sell out.

Corrie Hill: I think they’ve done this to make it so no Torquay advantage due to the number of fans we take to the away matches!! Weald stone are crapping themselves they can’t win against us do the excuse of s barrier problem and safety of fans is great to stop Torquay fans being present….. 🤨

Peter Milford: This is outrageous. The match should be postponed.

Robert Victor Charles Tovey: I’m not sure what to think, safety is obviously important

Jay Mo: As the old saying goes with the Wealdstone Raider “you’ve got no fans!

Lee Godfrey: They’re obviously worried the whole section of barrier along that stand is unsafe. They’re not going to turn away paying customers unless they have too.

The barrier in question being crushed by Wrexham fans after their 95th minute winner last week. The reason for the postponement #tufc https://t.co/UhVGpMYdRn pic.twitter.com/d73QPDO3Kt

— Harry (@_HarryAVFC) February 24, 2022