Remember - Covid Certification needed to get in matches from now on

[@owlstalk]

 

Following the Government’s recent introduction of Plan B measures for winter, Sheffield Wednesday are reminding all supporters of the mandatory regulations regarding League One games at Hillsborough for the immediate future.

 

COVID-19 Certification is now required for everyone aged 18 and above to gain entry into settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.

 

As a result, you will need to be provide COVID-19 Certification to enter Hillsborough. You should also be prepared for the necessary changes to our matchday operation to ensure the safest possible environment for yourself and everyone around you.

 

WHAT COUNTS AS COVID-19 CERTIFICATION?

You can demonstrate your vaccine status via the NHS COVID Pass on the NHS App or NHS website HERE: NHS COVID Pass - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

For anyone not double-jabbed, evidence of a negative lateral flow test MUST be registered on the Government website HERE within 48 hours of matchday. This will allow entry to the stadium. Please allow sufficient time to order lateral flow test packs if applicable.

 

CERTIFICATION CHECKPOINTS

There will be a secondary perimeter in place around the stadium to allow for designated checkpoint areas, located as follows:

South Stand Bridge – for supporters in the South Stand, Grandstand or hospitality areas

Leppings Lane Apron – for supporters in the North Stand or West Stand (visiting fans)

South Stand Car Park – for supporters in the South Stand, Grandstand or Kop

Penistone Road – for supporters in the Kop or North Stand

Gate 18 – for disabled supporters requiring access through the manned gate

Once you have passed through the checkpoints there will be no return and the usual matchday procedures apply, with no further checking of certification required.

 

PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY

Given the regulations of Plan B, it is essential that supporters arrive at Hillsborough as early as possible on to ensure sufficient time for the certification checks. Please be patient and consider those around you at the checkpoints, which will open from 11:45am. Some turnstiles will open earlier than normal at midday. Please do not bring bags unless absolutely necessary, this will aid the flow of supporters into the stadium.

 

WHICH TURNSTILES OPEN FROM MIDDAY?

North Stand - Leppings Lane checkpoint – turnstiles 1 and 2
South Stand - South Stand Bridge checkpoint – turnstiles 35 and 36
Grandstand - South Stand Bridge checkpoint – turnstile 101
Kop - Penistone Road checkpoint – turnstiles 61 and 62
North - Penistone Road checkpoint - turnstiles 82 and 83
West Stand - Leppings Lane checkpoint – turnstile 20 (away fans)

All remaining turnstiles will open on a staggered basis.

 

COVID PASS

So you can continue to watch the Owls in a safe manner, it is imperative that you play your part by ensuring you have your valid COVID-19 Pass or proof of certification ready to inspect.

For full details about the NHS COVID Pass, which includes information on how to obtain valid certification of the COVID-19 vaccine, please CLICK HERE.

INTERNATIONAL ATTENDEES

If you are an international resident, we accept certain vaccination proofs from other countries. For more information, read the guidance on approved COVID-19 vaccines and countries with approved proof of vaccination

 

BE PREPARED

All supporters attending fixtures at Hillsborough should be conversant with the following key messages:

• Please keep up to date, on a daily basis, with all communications relative to COVID-19

• It is essential you have a valid form of COVID-19 certification in your possession before you leave for the match or you WILL NOT be permitted entry to the stadium

• The best form of certification is the COVID-19 Pass if you are double or triple-jabbed. You can download the COVID-19 Digital Pass using the NHS App (please be aware that the registration process can take up to 24 hours). Given the likely event of limited connectivity on matchday, we advise to screenshot your pass in advance to show at the relevant checkpoint

• You can also gain entry by showing a negative lateral flow test result logged on the NHS App or Government website within 48 hours of matchday, although we advise you take the test as near to the game as possible. Please be aware a negative stick is not sufficient, your result MUST be logged on the Government website (Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) after which you will receive either a text message or email confirming the negative test result. Hospitality and directors box guests will be contacted separately with advice of protocols ahead of the respective matchday.

• If you do not have the App or cannot access the Government website, you must bring a printed NHS COVID-19 Pass supplied by the NHS HERE: Get your NHS COVID Pass letter - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

• For the avoidance of doubt, the handwritten medical card supplied at the time of each vaccination is not sufficient for entry

• Please ensure your pass is easily accessible to ensure efficiency and speed of access when approaching the checkpoints

• Do not rely on wi-fi signal on matchday for downloads as signals are invariably drained given the high volume of traffic and please ensure your mobile phone has sufficient battery life

• Under 18s will not need to certify COVID-19 status

• Remember, your certification is as important as your match ticket

 

TEST BEFORE TRAVEL

Full details on how to obtain a COVID-19 NHS Pass can be found above, but for those who are not double vaccinated, we reiterate you will need to take a lateral flow test within 48 hours of matchday and log a negative result as outlined above.

If the test returns a positive result, then you MUST NOT attend the fixture and MUST follow the correct procedures as advised by the NHS. Further information about COVID-19 is available HERE.

 

DON’T TRAVEL IF UNWELL

Even if double vaccinated, you SHOULD NOT attend if you, or anybody attending with you, is suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, feels unwell, or is required to self-isolate.

 

FACE COVERINGS

Face masks are now mandatory in all inside areas of Hillsborough, including the concourses, except when eating or drinking. We also strongly advise to wear face coverings in outside areas if applicable to maximise the safety of yourself and others around you.

 

INSIDE THE GROUND
To incentivise supporters to arrive early we will be offering the following Meal Deal for all supporters between 12 noon and 2:00pm:

 

Pie & Pint £5
Pie & Soft Drink £4.50

 

We will be showing the early live Premier League fixture, Manchester City v Chelsea (12:30pm kick-off), on the big screen and within the concourse areas.

 

Ozzie and Barnie Owl will be walking around the ground greeting fans from 12 noon.

 

Supporters should note that the Wednesday Tap and 1867 Lounge will be closing earlier than usual with last orders at 2:30pm.

 

Once in the ground normal ground regulations apply.

[PTLiam]

Bloody hell 

[alanharper]

If it's like Sunderland, just wave any old barcode at a steward, they didn't check or scan it.

 

(before anyone says owt, yes I did have a valid Covid passport!)

[PTLiam]

3 minutes ago, alanharper said:

If it's like Sunderland, just wave any old barcode at a steward, they didn't check or scan it.

 

(before anyone says owt, yes I did have a valid Covid passport!)

I'd expect this tbh, be seen to be doing something rather than doing it properly. Soon as there's a bottleneck folk will just be ushered past id imagine.

[Andrew6666]

BYOCP Government Advice or is it BYOB???

 

 

[@owlstalk]

9 minutes ago, Andrew6666 said:

BYOCP Government Advice or is it BYOB???

 

 

 

BYOB?

Like a bottle of wine?

[dr. benway]

12 minutes ago, @owlstalk said:

 

BYOB?

Like a bottle of wine?

 

Bring Your Own Biological Agent?

[musingowl]

I'll be genuinely intrigued to see how this goes.

 

The viterol on the official Twitter and Facebook pages for something entirely out of the clubs hands is interesting.

 

I've been to loads of shows and gigs the past 4 months where passes were required by the venue (75% of the time these haven't been checked), I went to Tramlines and an England match where this was required by law (test events) where it was checked but only by a quick glance.

 

I think the wording on the original press release where people were encouraged to screenshot their passes, though logical, simply adds to the notion of this being nothing but a box ticking excersise as it's so easy to forge.

 

On the day, it'll either be a complete storm in a teacup or cause lots of undue aggression towards match day stewards (also knowing SAG, the additional time taken to enter the stadium will be used against us) and deepen a feeling of division.

 

For the record, triple vaccinated, not entirely comfortable with passports, thought mostly omboard as a very short term measure.

[thommowl]

Would love to know how many get turned away, I'll guess at none. 

[musingowl]

6 minutes ago, thommowl said:

Would love to know how many get turned away, I'll guess at none. 

 

I'd guess a bit of finger pointing and name calling, head steward getting called over, he's had it up to the back teeth with it all, says sod it let em in.

 

[bradowl]

2 hours ago, thommowl said:

Would love to know how many get turned away, I'll guess at none. 

That number won't be far off. 

I'm going show my Tesco club card. 

[@owlstalk]

Don't forget!

 

[Hyde2005]

Utter pointless I've just had covid for 2nd time last week  yet had booster 5 wk ago . Showing a pass of how many Jabs you have had does not stop the spread. So completely utterly pointless.  

[@owlstalk]

1 minute ago, Hyde2005 said:

Utter pointless I've just had covid for 2nd time last week  yet had booster 5 wk ago . 

Jabs don't stop you getting it

Being fully vaccinated slows the spread

 

[Mr Meadows]

They were trying to enforce it at a panto at the city hall without much success

 

good luck when hundreds rock up the worse for wear at 255

[parkfieldowl14]

1 hour ago, bradowl said:

That number won't be far off. 

I'm going show my Tesco club card. 

Will the Barcode on the tag of the new trainers that I’d recently bought count ?

[morganowl]

2 minutes ago, Mr Meadows said:

They were trying to enforce it at a panto at the city hall without much success

 

good luck when hundreds rock up the worse for wear at 255

went to sunderland must have been 600 of us all crowded together like sardines to check passes ,they at best said its ok and didnt look  or brief check, in the mean time we all get covid while waiting like sardines , right works this dont it . 

[@owlstalk]

4 minutes ago, morganowl said:

went to sunderland must have been 600 of us all crowded together like sardines to check passes ,they at best said its ok and didnt look  or brief check, in the mean time we all get covid while waiting like sardines , right works this dont it . 

You're going into a stadium choc full of thousands and thousands of people

 

 

[morganowl]

Just now, @owlstalk said:

You're going into a stadium choc full of thousands and thousands of people

 

 

yes but if u went in say before 230pm out in fresh air on kop get seated your risk is near zero , been within 1 inch of someones breath and herded into a tight space by cops and stewards at sunderland is probably why i got virus as didnt attend any pubs that day and was 1st time out since xmas . i  couldn't get there  any earlier due to the a1 incident . what did showing them passes achieve? did it make us safer or less likely to catch it? of coarse not , they need scrapping . by the way im not young and ive been for a 5 mile run today and having a slight cold for 2 days didnt impact me , so these wednesday players shouldnt be using that pathetic performance at sunderland as an excuse 

[@owlstalk]

9 minutes ago, morganowl said:

yes but if u went in say before 230pm out in fresh air on kop get seated your risk is near zero 

You don't think that later on other people will come and sit around you?