Here's when Hartlepool United fans could be allowed back at Victoria Park and the potential issues following Boris Johnson's Government announcement

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that supporters will be allowed back into all sports stadiums from May 17.

National League stadiums will operate at a limited capacity of 4,000 or half-capacity while larger stadiums in the EFL and Premier League will be permitted to allow up to 10,000 supporters to attend.

“The turnstiles of our sports stadia will once again rotate, subject in all cases to capacity limits depending on the size of the venue,” said Johnson, who was announcing a roadmap out of the latest lockdown.

Hartlepool have played behind closed doors at Victoria Park for the duration of the 2020-21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dave Challinor’s side have played in front of a crowd just twice since the 2019-20 season was shut down, in front of 400 fans in the FA Cup at Ilkeston Town in October and 799 supporters in the National League defeat at Woking back in December.

But it’s approaching 12-months since Pools fans were able to watch their side in the flesh at Victoria Park.

And under the new guidelines, up to 3,928 supporters will be allowed into The Vic from May 17.

It’s some light at the end of the tunnel and it will come just in time for the final matches of the National League season.

As it stands, Pools’ first match with supporters allowed back will be away at Sutton on May 22.

Coincidentally, it’s the same opponent and stadium Pools visited just before lockdown last year.

The club’s only scheduled match at Victoria Park after May 17 is against Dover Athletic on the final day of the season. Unfortunately, the Whites have already cancelled their season due to a lack of grant funding.

But there is still hope that Poolies will be able to see their side in the flesh before the end of the season with rearranged matches still possible and there’s always the possibility of the play-offs as well with Pools currently sitting third in the table.

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