BEHIND CLOSED DOORS FIXTURES

Friday 13^th March, as if the day could not be any more ominous, was a day that football fans in the UK will remember for a long time.

Here at Wise Security, we was in full flow preparing for another busy weekend of football and sports events to manage. In fact, many were prepared and on route to a London derby  between Fulham FC and Brentford FC.

This was the day when the football stopped in the UK, all Premier League and English Football League fixtures were postponed, a truly harrowing day for football fans! But none more so to an industry that built itself around football and sporting events. Fast forward three somewhat unusual months to say the least, and we found ourselves back at football, albeit to a much different football than we are used to.

Gone were the crowds of thousands, cheering, screaming, shouting with passion for their team. Gone were highs and lows all accompanied with following your favourite football team. Gone were the opportunities for many people to continue to attend their favourite pastime.

However, thanks to the earned trust we had with many of our clients, we were fortunate enough to support with staff for Behind Closed Doors fixtures, working at Fulham’s Craven Cottage, West Ham’s London Stadium, and the home of English football, Wembley Stadium.

These venues have all come with unique challenges and vastly different roles and responsibilities that we have had to get used to. We have been adhering to COVID regulations as well as helping the venues in enforcing these new rules and regulations. This includes strict security checks on entry to all stadiums, social distancing enforcement, one way system guidance, and ensuring all attendees are wearing the correct PPE.

Daniel Frost, our Operations Manager, has had a hand in assisting all three of the venues we have been supporting, he had this to say, “These fast few months have been surreal, football isn’t the same without the crowd! However, we have been fortunate to be able to assist these prestigious venues with their operations and have done so with flying colours. We look forward to continuing this relationship and cannot wait for fans to come back.”

Whilst Behind Closed Door Fixtures have become a “new normal” we will continue to support Fulham FC, West Ham United FC and Wembley Stadium with their operations during these uncertain times, and look forward to the return of fans so we can expand our operation back to what we all want, the real normal.