It had been a wait of 193 days for Carlisle United’s supporters to watch their team at Brunton Park again.

It is safe to say that, for those who attended Saturday’s “test event”, it was worth the wait.

Most importantly, fans who were among the 1,000 spectators allowed back into the ground for the first time since the Covid-19 shutdown felt the day had gone well from a safety aspect.

Carlisle themselves said they had received positive feedback both from fans and the safety advisors who had monitored the day.

Some of those season-ticket holders also told the News & Star they felt safe and secure at the stadium, in the first EFL game to be played in front of fans since March.

Supporters were asked to observe social distancing procedures, with Carlisle setting out one-way systems and certain no-go areas in the stands in order to ensure this.

Fans were also asked to wear face coverings when moving around the stadium, although this requirement was relaxed once people were in their terrace positions or seats.

Some rows of seats and other areas were out of bounds, in order to ensure there were no clusters of fans close together (other than “bubble” groups).

It led to an afternoon where Brunton Park inched a little back towards normality, with fans in the Main Stand, Paddock, Warwick Road End and Pioneer Stand cheering on Chris Beech’s team.

They were rewarded with a good performance and a 2-0 victory and, later, told us it had been a positive experience.

We asked on Twitter what supporters had made of the day.

Long-standing Blues fan Keith Elliott was among those who praised the club for how they had handled things.

“Fantastic day out, great experience, totally safe – no issues – and a great result,” he said. “Well done @officialcufc.”

Tracy Sturgess echoed Keith’s views and felt Carlisle’s preparation for the return of fans had been good.

She “felt safe and secure” and said there were “clearly laid-out areas to walk along, people wearing masks appropriately and social distancing.

“Great experience, brilliant day and fantastic win.”

Laura Barr was equally positive about the day. She said: “Everyone behaved themselves and social-distanced, and wore masks where they were supposed to.

“The club have done great to get us all back safely.”

Andrew Hodgson felt the way Saturday went should encourage the belief that greater numbers could make a safe return to the stadium soon.

He said: “Supporter experience was superb, no hassle, plenty of space in each area; nothing to question safety-wise.

“Nothing to change from the club. I would think we could easily have more fans in safely next game.”

Eric Green, meanwhile, said he was happy with what he had seen on the pitch as well as how the off-field procedures worked.

“Magic to be back,” he said. “Everything worked well; no hold-ups [going] in before, and [going] out again after the game.”

One or two Twitter users had minor complaints but were still, in the main, happy with how United had staged the event.

Ann-Marie Green said: “Only niggle was the tunnel not being moved but, hey – great to be back.”

Mike C added: “Great to be back on the Paddock, well done @officialcufc.

“One issue, though – the barriers in the Paddock still covered in pigeon crap, looked like they hadn’t been cleaned since last season.”

Another fan, known on Twitter as “Olga” (@olgathefox21), said the event was a success and looked ahead to Brunton Park’s next game – the visit of Cumbrian rivals Barrow in early October.

“Everything was spot-on. The stewards were fab. Fans were excellent. Social distance was brilliant. Here’s hoping for the local derby to happen next month.”

With the response from fans largely positive, the feeling was clearly mutual when it came to boss Chris Beech and his players.

The United head coach said it had been very welcome to have some of the Blues’ faithful back at the ground to give his team their backing.

He also said the organisation of the day from a safety point of view had been good.

“As a football club, it’s from start to finish been an absolutely unbelievable, superb exercise, both on and off the pitch,” Beech said.

“You can’t argue with that.

“In terms of moving forwards from it, we’ve got to take small steps, but we’re very fortunate at Carlisle to have an 18,000 [capacity] stadium and the home crowds don’t normally meet that.

“It would be much more difficult for smaller clubs who can’t possibly do this.”

In terms of the atmosphere the 1,000 created, Beech smiled: “When they all come back we maybe should keep them in their bubbles and pods and they might make more noise!

“It was like a normal matchday with how they were, and that’s just fantastic. It’s just so nice to hear the chants again. I’m so pleased for them.”

He also said the support helped his team raise their game against Southend.

“It’s brilliant, isn’t it – it spurs us on,” he said. “It enables faster play and interplay, adds more of a sense of responsibility towards giving the ball away, or trying to benefit from a set play.

“I think it just adds atmosphere, and any party, needs a decent atmosphere.”

It now remains to be seen how the game will seek to build on Saturday’s events in the EFL, with a view to getting more fans back in grounds in a climate of rising Covid-19 infections nationally.

The League’s chief executive David Baldwin said recently that getting supporters back in is vital to the viability of clubs. He said: “EFL Clubs lost £50m in gate receipts in the 2019/20 season and combined with a reduction in commercial revenue, the financial pressures on our clubs is unrelenting.

“While the League has been working on plans to provide clubs with financial support, it is estimated a further £200m will be lost if crowds do not return during the 2020/21 campaign.

“The pilot events give cause for optimism that a return of spectators in greater numbers will be possible before too long, but I’m acutely aware that the health and well-being of supporters and their wider communities remains the priority.”