Following the announcement from the NZ Govt to remain in Alert Level 2, we will be continuing to enforce a no spectators allowed policy for English Park. Given the high volume of usage across our various programmes, club trainings and the high profile games we host here; closing the venue to spectators is the only way we can ensure to keep within the gathering size of 100 people. Furthermore, as English Park is an enclosed space with shared walkways and entrances/exits, there is no way to prevent crossover between groups of users so we need to count consecutive users as one group again bringing us up to the gathering size limit. The only groups of people allowed into the venue will be those who are directly involved in the game/training/programme booked on English Park (players, coaches, staff, referees).

Additionally, changing rooms at English Park will have a one group per changing room per day limit. This is because we are required to clean and disinfect the changing rooms between each use and it is unrealistic for us to manage that between multiple users on the same evening. Currently we are able to clean these once per day which is why are limiting their use to one user group per changing room per day. Therefore, changing rooms will remain closed for training/programme use. However, changing rooms will be opened up for official competition games excluding the Schools Premier XI competition. Each changing room will have sanitizer provided.

Part of the Alert Level 2 guidelines require contact tracing to be in place at grounds. We are requiring that all those who enter English Park to sign in using the NZ COVID Tracer App. We have this QR code on the entrance/exit of the ground and placed throughout the facility. This must be used even in addition to whatever data we can capture through COMET. The App should be our number one source for contact tracing the users of this facility.

We understand there will be some disappointment with this decision but it is the only way we can ensure we continue to operate this facility within the guidelines for Alert Level 2.

Article added: Tuesday 25 August 2020
Article updated: Monday 7th September 2020