Wick limited to 300 spectators and tickets must be bought in advance for new Highland League season
Get a digital copy of the Courier and Groat delivered straight to your inbox every week
Coronavirus regulations mean Wick Academy will have a maximum of 300 spectators when the Highland League season kicks off next weekend – and tickets will have to be bought in advance.
Clubs are having to implement a range of protocols to ensure the delayed 2020/21 campaign can begin in a Covid-secure way.
Academy will welcome Buckie Thistle to Harmsworth Park for their opening fixture on Saturday, November 28.
Everyone entering the ground will have to pass a temperature check, face masks must be worn and two-metre social distancing will have to be observed.
A statement on the club website said: "For the 2020/21 season, following guidelines issued by the Highland League, Wick Academy will only allow entry to games by the purchase of matchday tickets. Spectator numbers will be capped at a strict limit of 300 per game.
"Covid-19 regulations mean we have to have traceability of all who enter the ground so name and contact number must be printed on the matchday ticket. We are working with the league in finalising our policies and procedures and these will be published early next week."
The Breedon Highland League Championship will see 16 clubs play each other once. The Scorries have been given eight home matches and seven away.
They also have a home tie in the second preliminary round of the Scottish Cup against either Penicuik Athletic or Musselburgh Athletic on Saturday, December 12.
Tickets for the eight league home league games and the Scottish Cup match are on sale from the following outlets:
- Caithness Print Solutions, Lower Dunbar Street, Wick.
- Overloch Car Parts, Breadalbane Terrace, Wick.
- Harper's Fly Fishing Services, 57 High Street, Thurso.
- Harmsworth Park – Saturday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11am to 1pm.
Or contact Pat Miller, 07856270286; Tracey Miller, 07717488429; Stewart Gunn, 07745372103.
A season ticket (batch of eight) costs £60 at the full rate or £30 for concessions.
A single league ticket is £8 (full) and £4 (concession), while the Scottish Cup tie is £10 and £5.
The club is asking supporters to buy tickets early and complete the Covid-19 track-and-trace part of the ticket prior to attending games so that there are no unnecessary delays with queuing before kick-off.
There will be no boardroom hospitality or tea-hut provision for the time being.
Academy's eight home league fixtures are against Buckie, Clach, Huntly, Rothes, Fraserburgh, Lossiemouth, Nairn County and Deveronvale. Their away trips are to Brora, Keith, Strathspey Thistle, Formartine United, Turriff United, Inverurie Locos and Fort William.
Forres Mechanics have chosen to withdraw from the league for this season.
Breedon Highland League Championship fixtures:
Saturday, November 28:
Deveronvale v Brora Rangers
Fort William v Strathspey Thistle
Inverurie Locos v Keith
Lossiemouth v Fraserburgh
Nairn County v Clachnacuddin
Rothes v Huntly
Turriff United v Formartine United
Wick Academy v Buckie Thistle
Saturday, December 5:
Brora Rangers v Wick Academy
Buckie Thistle v Inverurie Locos
Clachnacuddin v Turriff United
Formartine United v Lossiemouth
Fraserburgh v Fort William
Huntly v Deveronvale
Keith v Nairn County
Strathspey Thistle v Rothes
Saturday, December 12:
Scottish Cup preliminary round two
Saturday, December 19:
Deveronvale v Keith
Fort William v Brora Rangers
Inverurie Locos v Formartine United
Lossiemouth v Huntly
Nairn County v Fraserburgh
Rothes v Buckie Thistle
Turriff United v Strathspey Thistle
Wick Academy v Clachnacuddin
Saturday, December 26:
Scottish Cup round one
Saturday, January 2:
Brora Rangers v Rothes
Buckie Thistle v Deveronvale
Clachnacuddin v Inverurie Locos
Formartine United v Nairn County
Fraserburgh v Turriff United
Huntly v Fort William
Keith v Wick Academy
Strathspey Thistle v Lossiemouth
Saturday, January 9:
Deveronvale v Strathspey Thistle
Fort William v Formartine United
Inverurie Locos v Brora Rangers
Lossiemouth v Clachnacuddin
Nairn County v Buckie Thistle
Rothes v Fraserburgh
Turriff United v Keith
Wick Academy v Huntly
Saturday, January 16:
Brora Rangers v Nairn County
Buckie Thistle v Turriff United
Clachnacuddin v Fort William
Formartine United v Rothes
Fraserburgh v Deveronvale
Huntly v Inverurie Locos
Keith v Lossiemouth
Strathspey Thistle v Wick Academy
Saturday, January 23:
Clachnacuddin v Buckie Thistle
Deveronvale v Fort William
Huntly v Fraserburgh
Keith v Brora Rangers
Lossiemouth v Nairn County
Strathspey Thistle v Formartine United
Turriff United v Inverurie Locos
Wick Academy v Rothes
Saturday, January 30:
Deveronvale v Formartine United
Fort William v Keith
Inverurie Locos v Strathspey Thistle
Lossiemouth v Buckie Thistle
Nairn County v Huntly
Rothes v Clachnacuddin
Turriff United v Brora Rangers
Wick Academy v Fraserburgh
Saturday, February 6:
Brora Rangers v Lossiemouth
Buckie Thistle v Fort William
Clachnacuddin v Deveronvale
Formartine United v Wick Academy
Fraserburgh v Inverurie Locos
Huntly v Turriff United
Keith v Rothes
Strathspey Thistle v Nairn County
Saturday, February 13:
Deveronvale v Turriff United
Formartine United v Brora Rangers
Fort William v Inverurie Locos
Fraserburgh v Buckie Thistle
Huntly v Clachnacuddin
Rothes v Nairn County
Strathspey Thistle v Keith
Wick Academy v Lossiemouth
Saturday, February 20:
Highland League Cup round one
Wednesday, February 24:
Start of period for any midweek rearranged fixtures
Saturday, February 27:
Brora Rangers v Fraserburgh
Buckie Thistle v Strathspey Thistle
Clachnacuddin v Formartine United
Inverurie Locos v Rothes
Keith v Huntly
Lossiemouth v Fort William
Nairn County v Deveronvale
Turriff United v Wick Academy
Saturday, March 6:
Rearranged fixtures
Saturday, March 13:
Highland League Cup round two
Saturday, March 20:
Deveronvale v Inverurie Locos
Formartine United v Keith
Fort William v Turriff United
Fraserburgh v Clachnacuddin
Huntly v Buckie Thistle
Rothes v Lossiemouth
Strathspey Thistle v Brora Rangers
Wick Academy v Nairn County
Saturday, March 27:
Highland League Cup semi-finals and rearranged fixtures
Saturday, April 3:
Brora Rangers v Huntly
Buckie Thistle v Formartine United
Clachnacuddin v Strathspey Thistle
Inverurie Locos v Wick Academy
Keith v Fraserburgh
Lossiemouth v Deveronvale
Nairn County v Fort William
Turriff United v Rothes
Saturday, April 10:
Highland League Cup final and rearranged fixtures
Saturday, April 17:
Buckie Thistle v Brora Rangers
Clachnacuddin v Keith
Fraserburgh v Formartine United
Huntly v Strathspey Thistle
Lossiemouth v Turriff United
Nairn County v Inverurie Locos
Rothes v Fort William
Wick Academy v Deveronvale
Saturday, April 24:
Brora Rangers v Clachnacuddin
Deveronvale v Rothes
Formartine United v Huntly
Fort William v Wick Academy
Inverurie Locos v Lossiemouth
Keith v Buckie Thistle
Strathspey Thistle v Fraserburgh
Turriff United v Nairn County
Saturday, May 1:
SHFL/SLFL play-off first leg
Saturday, May 8:
SHFL/SLFL play-off second leg