FOR the first time in nine months, AFC Bournemouth fans will be welcomed back to Vitality Stadium for Cherries’ match against Huddersfield.

Football matches have been played behind closed doors since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And after it was announced that Bournemouth would be in tier 2 of coronavirus restrictions, meaning 2,000 fans can attend, the club has been preparing to welcome them back.

Saturday’s match will be run as a “test event”, enabling the club to determine what procedures can be improved ahead of Tuesday’s match against Wycombe.

Operations director Liz Finney told the Daily Echo: “It will be very different for all concerned from pre-Covid matchdays.

“The priority will be the health and safety of every person at the game. We want to make it a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere as possible.

“I can’t tell you how much we are looking forward to having fans back.”

All four stands will be in use, with fans entering through fire exit gates rather than turnstiles.

The matchday draw won’t be taking places and the food stands also won’t be open, Ms Finney said.

“Fans will be allocated their seat and have a different entry time and entry point. The reasons for that are we have to socially distance throughout.

“On matchdays I will usually spend a lot of time in and around supporters making sure everything is going ok. It is going to be amazing (to have fans back).”

Around 1,200 fans will attend Saturday’s game, before 2,000 are welcomed in on Tuesday evening.

“I know fans will have received a lot of information telling them what they can’t do, but we are really looking forward to having them back in the ground.

“I’m looking forward to 5pm with everything gone smoothly and hopefully three points on the board.”

Season ticket holder Dan Cox, 32, said: “I’m pretty buzzing to be honest. It’s been nine months which has been the longest period of my life without any football. Even though we are not going to be in our seats, you can still generate a good atmosphere.

“You get so used to going on Saturday at 3pm, it is the highlight of the week.

“To just enjoy a game of football, feel close to the action, feel more involved, it is the reason we go. It’s getting back to seeing the team that you love.”