Fans absent from Yorkshire grounds again with Harrogate Town home games back behind closed doors

A limited number of fans were allowed back in football stadiums from December 3 in low risk areas categorised in Tier 2 including those of Harrogate Town.

Outside venues in Tier 2 areas were restricted to 2,000 spectators, although a much smaller percentage attended Harrogate’s recent games against Forest Green and Salford.

Fans were also in attendance at Tuesday night’s home game with Carlisle United, but it was controversially called off after just ten minutes due to an icy surface, much to the disappointment of Town manager Simon Weaver.

Apart from Harrogate, no other White Rose side in the top four divisions have played a home fixture in front of some supporters this season and the latest review – which has seen a number of places across the country upgraded into higher tiers – does not hold out much hope of spectators returning to watch games any time soon.

The moving up of the Liverpool City region into Tier 3 will mean that no Premier League games will be now played in front of supporters, with a limited amount of fans having previously been allowed into games at Liverpool and Everton.

Meanwhile, there will also be no fans present at any games in the EFL following the elevation of Cumbria, Devon and Wiltshire – the counties where Carlisle United, Plymouth Arygle, Exeter City and Swindon Town play – into higher tier categories.

Barnsley, Bradford City, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Rotherham United, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday must continue to play home matches behind closed doors.

With the exception of September’s pilot at Middlesbrough, none have hosted matches since March.