Hatters confirm 1,000 fans will be allowed to attend Kenilworth Road for Norwich clash

Luton Town have confirmed that they have been given the green light to welcome back 1,000 fans for the visit of Championship leaders Norwich City on Wednesday evening.

The Hatters haven't played in front of a crowd on home soil since late February when they entertained Stoke City.

However, after being placed in tier two by the government last week, it meant that Town could open their doors to 2,000 fans after lockdown ends on December 2.

The club opted for a 1,000 capacity pilot event, and were just waiting for approval from the relevant authorities, which was received today.

A statement on the Luton official website said: "Having received a safety certificate from Luton Council's Safety Advisory Group, we are now able to proceed with a limit of 1,000 spectators attending our pilot event.

"The process for selecting the 1,000 to be invited to attend the Norwich match will be by ballot of those supporters who have held a season ticket for 10 years or longer.

"Those who are selected will be contacted by the ticket office today.

"We will put a notification on our social media channels when these emails have been sent, so please look out for yours arriving and check your junk and spam folders too.

"We would like to reiterate that Wednesday’s match is a test event and that all 1,000 supporters attending will be ambassadors for your football club.

"As with everything in our daily lives during 2020, all Hatters should understand that the matchday experience will be very different to what you are used to pre-Covid.

"You will be sitting in a different seat to the one you usually have, and some supporters will be in a different part of the ground to where you have sat for years.

"Therefore it is vital that all pre-match information you receive regarding completion of a mandatory health questionnaire on the day of the game, your allocated arrival time (20 minute blocks from 6.30-6.50pm, 6.50-7.10pm and 7.10-7.30pm to be notified by the Ticket Office) and your stadium entry point is adhered to.

"There will be temperature checks on arrival and one-way flows into, around and out of the stadium, with supporters required to practise the measures we are all now accustomed to with regards to social distancing and maintaining bubbles, wearing a face covering at all times while at the stadium and sanitising hands regularly.

"Patience will also be required after the final whistle as supporters are required to remain in their seats as stewards direct one row at a time to their exit point, in a safe and controlled manner.

"We cannot wait to see our fantastic supporters back inside Kenilworth Road and it is only through the behaviour of our ambassadors on Wednesday night that we can satisfy the authorities that spectator numbers can be increased going forward.

"For future matches with limited attendances, season ticket holders who have indicated that they wish to return will be grouped together to allow us to use social distancing bubbles to maximise capacity.

"You will then be invited to attend matches on a rotational basis and further information will be provided on this process in due course.

"As ever, we thank all supporters for your patience and understanding. Together we can do this."