How Doncaster Knights has stepped up efforts to protect against coronavirus

The South Yorkshire club has been busy putting a series of safety measures in place, including being the first team in the championship to install a sanitisation tunnel at its stadium, Castle Park.

In an innovative move to ensure the safety of players and staff, the Doncaster Knights RFC this week became the first club in the championship to make such a move.

Doncaster Knights, General Manager, Neil Holmes, said: "The safety of our staff, supporters and customers is of utmost importance to us. We have now welcomed our mini/junior and amateur sections back to Castle Park and hope to be able to welcome supporters back to watch the Knights soon."

Players and staff alike will walk through the tunnel when they arrive for training and matches to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. It is also being used by the players’ families so they can safely watch the games live and visit the players at work.

The hope is that the sanitisation tunnels, installed by Gateway PPT, will play a major part in getting fans safely back into the stadium to support the Knights in person, when restrictions are eased and in line with Government advice, and provide an additional line of defence and helps to reduce transmission of Covid-19.

Mr Holmes added: "The sanitisation tunnel highlights our commitment to our stakeholders and is a key part of the extensive safety measures we are taking to safeguard all who visit Castle Park."

The tunnel works by sanitising people who walk through it – a little like an airport scanner – beginning with a thermo imaging camera to take temperatures and then using controlled, odourless, dry-misting of a treated water-based solution to disable bacteria and viruses. The process takes up to five seconds.

The move follows reports that the Secretary of State for Sport, Oliver Dowden, is looking into ways sports stadiums can re-open safely, supported by the creation of a new working group within DCMS, the Sports Technical Innovation Group (STIG).

Christian Pearce, Commercial Director of Gateway PPT, said: "The Gateway PPT provides Doncaster Knights’ players, staff members and families with the peace of mind that they are doing everything they can to protect themselves and others against covid-19.

"We are hopeful that in the not so distant future the Gateway PPT will be used by clubs across the league to welcome fans back to watch their favourite team live."

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