The Football Association have announced that the Build Base FA Trophy and the Build Base Vase finals, to take place at Wembley, will be played behind closed doors on 3rd of May 2021 much to the clubs and supporters dismay.

The statement from the FA said, “Despite our best efforts to accommodate limited spectators, a suitable date was sadly not available and both the Vase Final between Consett and Hebburn Town and Trophy Final featuring Harrogate Town and Concord Rangers will be played behind closed doors.”

The heartwrenching disappointment felt by fans, including myself a Harrogate Town fan, is palpable. Some people have waited many years for the chance to see their club play at our most auspicious stadium, Wembley, only to be let down in this way.

We appreciate that these times have been difficult given the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns we all have had to endure, but we have and together we now see the tide turning. During this period many have suffered both in loss, health, jobs and now for the fans of these clubs, the hope, which for some kept them going, of seeing their team play at Wembley, now disappear.

Harrogate Town, for the first time in the clubs 106 year history has got to play at Wembley not just once but twice and on both occasions, sadly, behind closed doors if decisions made, remain the same. And Harrogate are not the only ones, what about Concord Rangers, Consett and Hebburn Town, the clubs and fans will be and are so disappointed. Some fans may never get the chance to see their team play there again, which is heartbreaking.

And yet, in the wisdom of The FA Board, they have made this decision as though there are no alternatives. If changing the date is not viable what about making the Non-League Finals day a test event so that fans can attend?

We call upon both The FA Board Chief Executive, Mark Bullingham and the culture secretary, Oliver Dowden CBE, to reconsider this event. To bear in mind the hope of all the fans of the clubs mentioned above and the clubs themselves, who desperately want the fans to return safely, please make this a test event or change the date and hold the finals when fans can support their respective teams live and build wonderful memories that will last through the generations.

Football is a big part of supporters lives, so allowing them to be able to go to Wembley for Non-League Finals Day could be a massive boost. What a memory that would be. The FA could make an awful lot of people very happy if they reconsider their decision."

The clubs have had to wait this long for a decision and even though it was dropped on them without consultation, they would not mind waiting a little longer so their beloved fans can join them on, what will be, an amazing day if The FA choose not to use the non-league finals as a test event.

Will you join us and express your heartfelt support for this change of event by signing this petition so that we can, as fans of these respective clubs, cheer our teams on from the terraces and make it a day to remember?