Why Sheffield Wednesday v Celtic pre-season clash will be played behind closed doors
and live on Freeview channel 276
The match will take place on Wednesday July 7 at 3pm at a training facility in Wales, where the Owls will also spend time in a training camp in preparation for the match and indeed the season ahead.
Like last summer’s sole Loughborough-based pre-season clash with Premier League Leicester City, it will take place behind closed doors with no spectators.
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Hide AdThe Star understands this is because whilst the facility itself is of world class standards, it is a training centre – not a stadium – and does not host the sort of supporter facilities that would allow the safe attendance of fan bases the size of both Wednesday and Celtic
Continued uncertainty over what coronavirus safety restrictions may look like – Prime Minister Boris Johnson has admitted the return of unrestricted crowded events may be pushed back beyond the planned June 21 ‘road map’ date if new variants of the virus take hold – mean the hosting of the match at a stadium nearby is simply not a viable option.
The club are in discussions with clubs over further pre-season matches, to be confirmed in the coming weeks. In previous seasons pre-Covid, Wednesday have played at least one fixture at their own Hillsborough stadium.
Owls supporters have not been able to attend a match since March last year.
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Hide AdWednesday’s League One curtain raiser will take place on Saturday August 7. All league fixtures will be announced on Thursday June 24.