Disabled fans 'outraged' at parking policy

By Hannah Barnes
Donal MacIntyre show, BBC Radio 5 live

Wolves' policy for disabled home fans has left some unable to attend games

"It's like having a row with your own family." That's how Brendan King describes his battle with Wolverhampton Wanderers this season.

Brendan is one of a number of disabled fans who are angry about the way the club has allocated their disabled parking spaces.

The club says it has changed the criteria to try and make the system as fair as possible.

But, it has left people who have been able to park at the ground for years struggling to get to matches.

A life-long Wolves fan, 66-year-old Brendan King relied on his space at Molineux. He is paraplegic and suffers from painful spasms in his back.

It's not much fun getting on the bus on your own in a wheelchair Brendan King, disabled Wolves fan

Without being able to park close to the ground, Brendan is finding it tough.

"It's a bit of a nightmare," he told the BBC.

"The first three matches I tried using the bus, but I live nine miles from the ground. It's always busy and it's not much fun getting on the bus on your own in a wheelchair.

"It's a half-hour push from the centre of town to the ground. It's left me exhausted and it's a very uncomfortable experience."

The removal of his parking space has not turned Brendan away from his beloved Wolves, but he is far from being a 'happy Wanderer.'

"They didn't put the changes on the application form. There was no discussion at all with disabled fans who might be in need of a disabled parking space. I was absolutely outraged."

What's more, Brendan says Wolverhampton Wanderers left it until the week before the start of the new season to tell people whether they had been awarded a space, leaving it too late to make alternative arrangements.

Joyce Cook, Chair of the National Association of Disabled Supporters (NADS) said: "There seems to have been a breakdown of communication between the club and its disabled supporters.

"We urge Wolves to work with its disabled fans to establish a pan-disability Disabled Supporters Association (DSA) where such matters can be discussed in future."

For 87-year-old Thomas Jones, this is the first season in over 60 years that he cannot see his club play.

"I feel terrible. It makes the weekend if the Wolves are at home and you're going," he says.

Thomas has paid for his season ticket but is 'very annoyed' he can no longer make use of it.

Fans accept that demand outstripped supply this season. But, they say that the new criteria are too crude to make sure that those most in need are granted a space.

Wolves have given priority to supporters who receive the highest rate of a particular type of disability benefit.

We attempt to allocate spaces as fairly as we can Wolverhampton Wanderers spokesperson

This does not take into account the fact that someone might be severely disabled but not claiming benefits at all.

The new system also does not favour those who became disabled after the age of 65.

A spokesperson for Wolves told the BBC: "The 46 free car parking spaces we offer disabled supporters compares very well against most clubs. We attempt to allocate spaces as fairly as we can, based on a priority system.

"This is a very difficult task, which is always open to debate. We acknowledged very early that we could have communicated the changes better. We'll be getting in touch with Mr King to seek his views on next season's process.

"We provide other services in addition to free disabled parking spaces. A disabled ring and ride service visits the ground, there is a park and ride service, drop-off points for private cars and paid for parking spaces."

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This story will be broadcast on the Donal MacIntyre programme on BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 1930 GMT. Or download the free podcast. You can contact the programme by emailing [e-mail].