September 22, 1939
Rules to be observed.
By ticket only in some cases.
The Football Association have issued the following statement as to the manner in which football may be carried on during the war.
“The Football Association have decided, after consultation with Home Office, in response to the Government’s request that recreation and entertainment shall continue as far as possible, to give its full support to the organisation of both friendly and competition matches confined to local and district groups of clubs on Saturdays and public holidays during the war, with the proviso that it must in no way interfere with national service.
“In the interest of public safety, however, the Government has decided that in evacuation areas the number of spectators must be limited and that inn all areas, for the sake of police and transport authorities, large crowds travelling to and from grounds must be avoided.
“All associations and clubs are asked to note the following Government regulations and to co-operate in their successful execution:
(A) IN NEUTRAL AND RECEPTION AREAS.
Before matches are arranged the proposed arrangement must first be reported to the local police headquarters. No general limit on the number of spectators to be admitted has been fixed, but the Chief Constable may, for special reasons, impose a limit on any one ground, or require advance bookings, or even forbid its use.
(B) IN EVACUATION AREAS.
1. The spectators ar any one match must not exceed 8,000 in number, or half the capacity of the ground, whichever is the less. Arrangements for matches must be reported beforehand to the local police headquarters, and, in exceptional cases, the Chief Constable may forbid the use of a ground or fix a lower limit for it.
In the case of grounds having a capacity of 60,000 or more, the Chief Constable has discretion to allow the admission of spectators up to a maximum of 15,000, provided that he is satisfied that proper arrangements have been made for advance booking. These arrangements must ensure that the admission to such ground shall be by ticket only, purchasable not later than the day before the match, and no entry payment at turnstiles will be permissible on these grounds.
2. The spectators must be evenly distributed in the stands and terraces available. If experience shows that large numbers try to make their way into grounds and thus put a strain upon the authorities, or expose themselves to necessary danger, the Government have made it clear that additional methods will have to be devised which will restrict the number so as to prevent this happening, and the Football Association has agreed to co-operate for this purpose if necessary.
The Football Association state that the clause concerning advance booking at football grounds in evacuation areas applies only to those grounds which decide to admit spectators above the limit of 8,000.
(Liverpool Daily Post: September 22, 1939)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 