No Result
View All Result
United Society 365
  • Top Stories
  • Health
  • Political
  • Law
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Beach holidays
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Contact us
  • Top Stories
  • Health
  • Political
  • Law
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Beach holidays
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
United Society 365
No Result
View All Result

The apprehension and frustration for disabled football fans returning to stadiums this season – Alan Smith

United Society 365 by United Society 365
August 13, 2021
in Sport
0
Home Sport

For the majority of supporters returning to stadiums this month there is giddiness around the resumption of familiar routines. Every regular has missed that first sight of the pitch and longed for the roar when a last-minute winner is scored but for as long as coronavirus poses a live threat the simple act of clicking through a turnstile appears less straightforward for a significant minority.

Going to the match as a disabled supporter has always been a logistical challenge requiring precise organisation from doorstep to the stands and with more than three quarters of disabled supporters considered “high risk” throughout the pandemic the anticipation of many is being diluted by apprehension.

As Cam Wood, an Aston Villa regular who has previously detailed his experiences as a disabled supporter, says: “Disabled fans like myself have worked so hard to keep themselves safe from the virus so to go back into a football ground full of people is a massive risk. It’s going to take some guts because these people have not been out in 18 months, yet alone to a stadium full of people who they don’t even know.”

A survey published by the charity Level Playing Field this week said that one in five disabled supporters do not want to return immediately, while 73% have no concern and 7% remain uncertain or undecided.

Their poll had 1,4000 responses and, separate to the pandemic, a quarter said that “anxiety or lack of confidence” was a barrier for them when attending live sport. Almost a third felt that there were certain sports or venues that they felt unable to attend due to lack of accessibility.

Disabled fans have been classed as “high risk” during the pandemic

For LPF’s chair, Tony Taylor, the fears and worries relating to the virus are clear but much of it serves as an exacerbation of familiar issues rather than presenting new problems.

“People who are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and have been socially distancing are extremely cautious about things,” he says before suggesting that the scenes of ticketless fans mindlessly targeting disabled areas at Wembley for England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy has increased the reticence of many.

“There’s an issue around general security for disabled supporters,” Taylor adds and it extends far beyond what happens inside the grounds. “Even before the pandemic, if you asked me to name problems facing disabled supporters, the fact is getting to the stadium is always an issue,” he says. “Particularly as we head towards a more liberal approach to pandemic it’s a real problem in terms of A) getting transport organised and B) feeling safe. Personally I’d feel uncomfortable doing it now.”

A bespoke approach is being taken in terms of additional measures to ease the fears of disabled supporters once inside, although last week a couple of supporter groups affiliated to Premier League clubs said that they had received no information regarding potential provisions.

Taylor describes it as a “fluid situation” and there is a feeling that new best practices will be learnt from experience in the next couple of months. Several EFL clubs are planning to introduce sections where masks are mandatory and there is a hope that will include disabled areas, while the potential of vaccine passports becoming a condition of entry could become another hurdle.

Read More
Related Articles

Read More
Related Articles

“If you’re a wheelchair user, you may have an assistant with you and if there’s an insistence on passports what happens if the assistant changes at the last minute?” Taylor says. “These are just some of the practical issues facing fans.”

But the Premier League is far better equipped than many clubs further down the pyramid. In the past Wood has gone to Hereford, his local non-League side, but is now put off by the inferior standard of facilities.

It is an issue of funding more than anything else, another example of the gulf in resources between the elite and those below, and Taylor is keen to point out several National League clubs quietly went way beyond what was expected of them to help supporters during the pandemic.

Yet the ultimate point remains: for those with accessibility issues less modern stadiums are not welcoming.

“When you go to their ground, you are sat in a box that’s at pitch level,” Wood says of Hereford’s Edgar Street. “You can hardly see anything because it’s so low to the ground and it’s really difficult. All you can really see is the players’ ankles and it might sound weird but that’s what it is like.

“When you look at lower league teams, they struggle because they haven’t got the money ploughed into them to help make the matchday experience the best it possibly can for fans like us. I don’t like to go to lower league matches because the quality of experience for a fan like me is of such a lower standard compared to what you get at a Premier League ground.”

Changes can still be made to improve the matchday experience

Taylor was impressed by the work of many clubs to ensure supporters with disabilities remained engaged throughout the past 18 months as simple gestures like a phone call from a player or the delivery of some merchandise have gone a long way to boosting the morale of those shielding.

“For a lot of disabled supporters their only opportunity to get out and meet other people is to get involved at a match,” he says. “People have not had that opportunity to communicate, so whether it’s Everton or MK Dons, to have a player ring you up is a big boost to the individual. Clubs have done so much in a whole host of areas and can hold their heads up after getting a bit of stick from certain politicians.”

That is not to say there is major room for improvement, particularly when it comes to stewards being adequately trained to deal with specific requirements not applicable to other supporters.

Wood’s biggest gripe is having his view of the pitch impeded by persistent standing in front of the wheelchair areas at Villa Park. The 24-year-old, who serves as the youth chair of the Football v Homophobia group, has spoken to the club about it but is resigned to his sightline being obscured again this season.

“We can’t stand up and therefore we can’t see what’s going on,” he says. “So then we have to rely on the personal assistants with us to tell us what’s going on and how is that making our matchday experience any good? We may as well stay at home to watch it if that’s always going to be the case.”

Read More
Related Articles

Read More
Related Articles

Taylor is semi-ambulant and sometimes goes to games on crutches. In the not too distant past he had a steward attempt to take them from him because they were considered a weapon.

Yet invisible disabilities are arguably the most significant problem when it comes to stadium staff and fellow supporters being unable to recognise potential problems.

“Most people imagine someone using a wheelchair, all blue badges reflect that, but there are so many that are important and don’t require a wheelchair,” Taylor says. “It might be someone on the spectrum and that’s somewhere football has gone and led the way in terms of breakout areas and rooms.

“But we’ve had examples in the past of stewards assuming someone was drunk because not walking in a straight line when it was down to disability. It’s important to have them properly trained.”

Tags: Barclay

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top Stories

Giraffes, parrots, and oak trees, among many species facing extinction

Giraffes, parrots, and oak trees, among many species facing extinction

by United Society 365
August 8, 2022
0

Around one million species are facing extinction, according to a report from IPBES, an independent intergovernmental science and policy body...

From the Field: Outreach across the Horn of Africa

From the Field: Outreach across the Horn of Africa

by United Society 365
August 8, 2022
0

In July, a UN human rights officer embarked on an outreach visit to the Horn of Africa’s Sool and Sanaag...

Nuclear-free world is possible, test-ban treaty chief says

Nuclear-free world is possible, test-ban treaty chief says

by United Society 365
August 8, 2022
0

From Hiroshima, UN chief calls for global nuclear disarmament

From Hiroshima, UN chief calls for global nuclear disarmament

by United Society 365
August 7, 2022
0

It is totally unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of a nuclear war, António...

Somalia: ‘We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now’

Somalia: ‘We cannot wait for famine to be declared; we must act now’

by United Society 365
August 6, 2022
0

<img style='visibility: hidden...

About us

United Society 365

United Society 365 delivers breaking news, headlines and top stories from politics, Health, entertainment and more in the UK and worldwide

Promoted Post

Pokemon Go January update: New Year’s Event and Mountains of Power coming soon | Gaming | Entertainment
Entertainment

Pokemon Go January update: New Year’s Event and Mountains of Power coming soon | Gaming | Entertainment

by United Society 365
December 23, 2021
0

Recent News

Political

Justice Dept. Charges Iranian in Plot to Kill John Bolton

August 11, 2022
Political

U.S. Insists It Will Operate Around Taiwan, Despite China’s Pressure

August 11, 2022
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Contact us

No Result
View All Result
  • Top Stories
  • Health
  • Political
  • Law
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Beach holidays
  • Travel
  • Sport
  • Contact us

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT