Charlton Athletic set to use September game as trial for bringing fans back to The Valley

Charlton Athletic are set to use one of their fixtures in September as a trial for allowing supporters back in.

It is expected that between 500 and 1,000 fans would be allowed in for a match ahead of an increased capacity at the start of October.

It was reported in July that the Valley and Cambridge’s Abbey Stadium were being looked at as test sites as the football authorities began to work out allowing the general public to attend again.

There seems a strong possibility that all clubs will be able to trial one match next month in front of a severely limited crowd.

When restrictions are lifted slightly in October, Charlton are planning for between 6,000 to 8,000 fans to be allowed at The Valley – which has a capacity of 27,000.

The number will depend on the amount of social bubbling – where people in one household will be able to sit together.

The Addicks are set to start consulting fans in the next couple of days and will talk to supporters who sit in different areas of the stadium.

The match day experience is still set to be very different than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Charlton will find out their League One fixtures on Friday and have been drawn away at Swindon in the EFL Cup first round on September 5.

PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD