Squires Gate are first Fylde coast football club to welcome back supporters

Squires Gate's pre-season games so far have been behind closed doors ... but that is set to end on Saturday

The Marton club will be allowed to admit up to 150 spectators for the pre-season match against Thornton Cleveleys.

It follows the FA announcement that some spectators will be allowed to attend games involving non-league clubs and women's teams at specified levels from this weekend

Clubs between steps three and six of the men's National League System (below National League North/South level) can admit supporters up to 15 per cent of their ground capacity from Saturday, increasing to 30 per cent from holiday Monday (August 31).

North West Counties League club Gate are included as they play at step five and delighted manager Luke Evans told The Gazette: "It's fantastic news for us. It means we can have 150 supporters in on Saturday, rising to 300 at the end of the month.

"We are trying our best to be a club for the community and this is great news.

"We had a great win over Curzon Ashton (of National League North) last weekend, so this is more really positive news."

These will be among the first games to be played in front of paying supporters anywhere in the country since the pandemic hit in March.

AFC Blackpool also play in the NWCL but their Saturday match is expected to remain behind closed doors as it is against an 'elite club', namely a Blackpool FC XI.

This weekend's return of spectators, which follows discussions between the FA and Government, also applies to steps three and four of the women's pyramid. This includes Fylde Women and other teams in the National League Northern Premier division.

Gate have been drawn away to Maine Road in the FA Cup extra preliminary round (August 31-September 3), with the winners away to Ashton United in the preliminary round (September 12).

In the Buildbase FA Vase, Gate head to Birtley Town in the first qualifying round (September 19), with the winners at Steeton or Jarrow in the second qualifying round (October 10).

AFC Blackpool are at home to Knaresborough Town in the first qualifying round, with the winners bound for Esh Winning.

The NWCFL season is provisionally set to start on October 3.