Why stadiums need a new view

By Sarah Holt

Disabled football fans often find following their team can be fraught with problems.

Before fretting about how the team is going to perform there is already the problem of access in and around the ground.

The National Association of Disabled Supporters (Nads) has started a campaign to ensure that disabled supporters can enjoy match days without these extra concerns.

Fan's comment: View from the City of Manchester Stadium

In partnership with the Football Licensing Authority, Nads has produced an accessible stadia guide for disabled supporters.

The document touches on the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which states that "disabled people should not be discriminated against by service providers."

It also provides advice about how to make match days a positive experience for disabled supporters from beginning to end.

"One of the key issues is improving sight lines at football grounds," explained Phil Downs, chairman of Nads.

"If you go to see a match you want to go to a facility which gives you the prospect of doing just that.

"It only takes one person to stand up and half your view of the pitch is obliterated.

"But other things are important too, such as proximity of parking, width of doors, kiosk and toilet facilities."

The guide has been distributed to all the football clubs in the country and the Football Association is bringing it to the attention of football's key figures as part of a series of seminars.

NADS' FACILITIES CHECKLIST Transport and access Parking Ticket outlets Lifts, ramps and staircases Movement in and around the stadium Toilets (1 in 15 should be for disabled use) Access to restaurants and bars Access to retail and commercial areas Click here to take part in the national audit

But Downs says that implementing the accessible stadia guide is a slow process.

"It would be nice to see the governing bodies embrace the document," said Downs.

"We want them to say, 'These guidelines are now part of our competition rules and if you want to play in the competition then you have x number of years to bring your facilities for disabled people up to this standard.'

"But there aren't any encouraging signs at the moment that the authorities are going to do this."

The FA has, however, taken some steps to raising awareness of the needs of disabled supporters.

English football's governing body has already sent out a guide to clubs informing them of the DDA's requirements.

In October this year all venues that are deemed not to be up to scratch will be forced to make adjustments.

"Through regular meetings with supporters' groups we are more aware of the issues facing disabled supporters," said an FA spokesman.

If you make football more accessible, more disabled fans will come and watch matches Phil Downs Chairman of Nads

"In the matches we host, like the FA Cup final and England games, we have been proactive in improving facilities to ensure fans have the best possible view."

Many would argue the clubs themselves also have a responsibility to their own fans.

Downs argues that many prefer to improve capacity rather than sacrifice seats for greater disabled access.

But the 48,000-capacity City of Manchester stadium - the new home of Manchester City this season - proves that all sets of fans can be comfortably catered for.

"The disabled facilities at the new stadium are one of the best in the country," said the club's disability liaison officer Samantha McNulty.

"The club offers 187 wheelchair spaces, 200 seats for ambulant fans and 20 seats for blind/visually impaired supporters - most at concessionary prices."

City's local rivals Manchester United have over 1,000 disabled supporters but the numbers for all teams across the country remain unknown.

Downs is confident more disabled fans would make the trip to see their teams in action if clubs implemented Nads' guidelines for accessible stadia.

"If you make football accessible, people will say they can now go to the game and more disabled people will come out and watch matches," said Downs.