Paul Barber glad Brighton and Hove Albion fans back at Amex

But chief executive Paul Barber has described the club’s landmark fixture Southampton as “a small but important start”.

Tier two status means the Seagulls will welcome 2,00 supporters to the Premier League fixture.

That temporary capacity will double if Sussex can move into tier one.

It is still a long way short of the 30,000 or so who regularly went through the gates before lockdown.

But cheers will ring out again at a Premier League fixture for the first time since the end of February – even if there will be no beers with which to toast the occasion.

Fans have been allowed to return to Premier League fixtures after the lockdown was lifted

Mr Barber, who is also Albion’s deputy chairman, said: “The decision to allow fans to return slightly took everyone by surprise because it was a bit earlier than anyone anticipated.

“But we now have the energy this news has given everyone throughout the football club.

“We have really missed the fans.

“Staff have been working throughout the pandemic but not doing their normal jobs or seeing the end product, which is fans in the stadium and the excitement of a matchday.

“We now have that. It’s only a small number but it’s a start and it’s an important start.

“Hopefully we can use it to build confidence going forward.

“We are taking it very much on a match-by-match basis.

“We are hoping we at least stay in tier two and we don’t go backwards but that is out of our hands.

“We have to hope we see the infection rate in this area stabilise or even better go down.”

Fans in the East Upper as Albion faced Chelsea

Albion will make the most of lessons learnt when they hosted 2,500 fans for a pre-season friendly against Chelsea at the end of August.

There will, however, be two notable changes to what happened that day.

Supporters will wear masks in the stands, although they will still be allowed to sing and cheer.

And there will be no beer sales this time.

That is a countrywide measure designed to prevent fans congregating in concourses.

READ MORE: Return of Premier League fans is about a bigger picture

Mr Barber said: “Selling beer again will be a next step.

“We probably could accommodate it quite safely now but most concourses across the country are so narrow.

“One possible option would be for the government to relax the drinking in view of the pitch legislation.

“That would be the safest way for people to buy a beer and take it through to their seat.

“We know they are socially-distanced, we know they are sitting down.

“Then it keeps the concourses clear and helps people enjoy what would be a more normal match day experience.

“But, at the moment, that legislation hasn’t been relaxed.”

Paul Barber is Albion's chief executive

Fans at the Amex will sit three seats apart – even if they are from the same family or bubble.

Mr Barber said: “Some clubs are bubbling people, which has been their operational choice.

“If you bubble, which is a perfectly acceptable stadium plan, you don’t know whether the bubble is a legitimate one or not.

“You then have a choice. You leave people where they are and risk breaking the protocol.

“Or you intervene and put stewards at an increased risk, which doesn’t seem with it.

“We would rather stick to a seating plan which worked really well. It’s only three seats.”

There were cardboard cut outs at the Amex after fans were banned from attending matches due to the pandemic

Government officials will be at the Amex to ensure all goes smoothly and staff from Southampton will also observe.

The lucky fans who had the chance to buy tickets after a ballot are asked to get to the stadium early – and get behind the team.

READ MORE: Albion tell fans what they must and can't do at the Amex

Mr Barber said: “We said at the test event people have to show common sense.

“If you are going to take your mask off and sing and shout at the top of your voice, that would not be ideal.

“If you are going to be shouting and singing through your mask, we really don’t see a big issue with that.

“People are outside, they are socially distant, they are wearing a mask.

READ MORE: Inside story of when Seagulls and Saints were League One rivals

“There has to be a point where you allow people to be themselves and enjoy their matchday.

“If you sanitise it, if you excuse the pun, too much, and you create a situation where people don’t want to come, we are really damaging our long-term future.

“We want people to keep themselves safe, keep others safe and enjoy themselves.”