Sports venues across England celebrate return of fans - in pictures

Monday was the first day of UK government's third step in coronavirus recovery road map

AFC Bournemouth fans applaud as the teams make their way out to the pitch ahead of the Championship match at the Vitality Stadium on Monday, May 17, 2021. Fans returned to sporting events following further easing of lockdown restrictions in England. PA

Socially distanced AFC Bournemouth fans in the stands ahead of the Championship match at the Vitality Stadium on Monday May 17, 2021. PA

AFC Bournemouth fans applaud their team at the Vitality Stadium on Monday. PA

Fans attend the championship play-off semi-final between AFC Bournemouth and Brentford at the Vitality Stadium. Getty

A Barnsley fan is seen waiting outside the stadium prior to the Championship play-off semi-final between Barnsley and Swansea City at Oakwell Stadium. Getty

St Helens fans in the stands before the Super League match at The Totally Wicked Stadium. PA

Falcons fans arrive early into the ground before the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Newcastle Falcons and Northampton Saints at Kingston Park on Monday. Getty

Falcons fans arrive at the Kingston Park on Monday. Getty

Bristol Bears fans before the match against Gloucester Rugby at Ashton Gate Stadium. Reuters

Barnsley fans arrive at the stadium ahead of the Championship playoff semi-final at Oakwell Stadium. PA

Sports fans in England took the first steps towards a semblance of normalcy as venue across the country welcomed the public back to the stands on Monday.

Supporters were allowed to return – albeit in limited numbers – as coronavirus restrictions were eased further.

Bournemouth fans were among the first to benefit as up to 2,000 were admitted to the Vitality Stadium for their Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Brentford.

Another 4,500 supporters were at Barnsley for their play-off against Swansea later in the evening.

There were also a number of fixtures across both codes of rugby, as well as horse and greyhound race meetings, on the first day of the UK government's third step in the coronavirus recovery road map.

Under the new restrictions, larger outdoor venues can admit up to 10,000 spectators, while smaller outdoor venues will have capacities capped at 4,000 or 50 per cent, whichever is the lowest.

Fans need to follow rules regarding face-masks, online health checks and maintain social distance.

At Bournemouth, fans were greeted by a message on the scoreboard which read, 'Welcome back, we've missed you'.

Cherries players received rapturous applause from all four sides of the ground as they entered the field, while there were light-hearted jeers for the opposition followed by some mocking chants, the Press Association reported.

Horse racing welcomed back paying spectators at Redcar, Carlisle, Leicester and Windsor.

"It's grand, great, fantastic, wonderful," said North Yorkshire trainer Tim Easterby while supervising his runners at Redcar.

"It's has been soulless going racing this past year, horrendous. I'm so pleased to see people back, it just feels like normal."

Rugby league had a busy programme on Monday night with five Super League matches – Hull can have 5,500 spectators, St Helens and Warrington 4,000 each, Castleford's capacity is 3,600 and Leigh are working to 2,000 - and two Championship games.