Rams’ football rivalry with Penns Grove will be played at Walnut Street Field Saturday with crowd limitations
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
SALEM – The football rivalry between Penns Grove and Salem will be played as scheduled Saturday at Salem’s Walnut Street Field but with restrictions on the number of fans who can pass through the gates.
The game, which will be the final high school game played on the field before the Rams move into their on-campus stadium in October, is scheduled to kickoff at noon.
“We are able to go ahead and get the game in,” Salem athletics director Darryl Roberts said.
Administrators from both school districts met Monday to talk about tickets, access and operations for the game after reports of a threat surfaced after last week’s Camden-Salem game and recommendations were made by local police.
The schools plan to put out a statement Tuesday regarding the particulars about spectators, but Riverview Sports News has learned students from either school with proper ID will be admitted and the schools will do a Salem-heavy 60/40 split on 500 presale adult tickets. Officials said there is really nothing they can do about spectators lining the fence outside the gate.
The Salem School District’s statement read in part “Due to a set of incidents in the community, the school district is going to limit the number of fans from the general public.”
Tickets for entry will be provided by the Athletic Directors or coaches representing each school. Attendance will be limited to three groups of people: Staff, currently enrolled Salem and Penns Grove High School students, and Parents/Grandparents of players.
No one else from the general public will be permitted on the premises.
The idea of playing the game without fans in attendance Roberts said was “something that was suggested, but just an idea considering some of the concerns that were out there.”
He declined to comment on those concerns.
The police presence at the field is expected to be similar to a normal game day operation.
Because of the Rams’ stadium project, the game – Salem’s home date – was moved to Penns Grove’s stadium, but it was officially moved back to Walnut Street earlier this month after city officials got the facility back into shape.
Penns Grove football coach John Emel played on the field as a Salem High starter during his high school career, as did most of his football-playing family members.
Both teams will be looking for their first victory of the season. It will be Salem’s Diamond Division opener.
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