Matchday info announcement: Football returns, fans return - a time to reflect and look ahead

Sunday’s opening Premier League game of the season against Manchester City will mark the first time a capacity crowd has been hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since March 4, 2020.

Ahead of kick-off, we shall be taking time to reflect on a past 17 months in which so much has happened - giving fans the opportunity to celebrate being back home and for us to thank you for your incredible support throughout this difficult period.

Flags will be placed on every seat so that we can generate a sea of colour and create an amazing atmosphere for our players as they emerge from the tunnel on this special occasion.

We would ask you to take your seats around 10 minutes before kick-off as we shall play a short video on our big screens, looking back on the key moments that happened during the pandemic.

• The moment COVID-19 forced the suspension of football and turned our lives upside down
• The Club’s response to the pandemic and handing over our stadium to the NHS - hosting more than 9,000 vaccinations, 41,500 maternity clinic appointments, drive-through COVID-19 testing and a food distribution hub - with students at the London Academy of Excellence Tottenham producing protective face shields for the frontline
• The return to behind-closed-doors football last June, which included a moving tribute to those we had lost
• How we have kept our fans engaged during the lockdowns of the past 17 months
• The gradual re-opening of society, which saw fans return to the stadium for reduced capacity matches and our Visitor Attractions

We also encourage fans to stay in their seats at half-time for our N17 Live broadcast, when we shall acknowledge Gary Mabbutt MBE - who has played a key role in lifting the spirits of our fans throughout the pandemic - making more than 3,000 phone calls to elderly and vulnerable supporters since last March in a bid to help combat the loneliness caused during the lockdowns.

Last Sunday’s Men’s and Women’s friendly matches with Arsenal gave us all a taste of what is to come, and we cannot wait to see a full house at the stadium once again - it really has been far too long.