Disabled fans accessibility

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm pretty sure disabled away fans at VP have to watch from the Trinity.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26662957

Wheelchair spaces provided as a percentage of Accessible Stadia Guide recommendations

1. Swansea 121%
2. Southampton 104%
3. Cardiff 102%
4. Arsenal 96%
5. West Brom 89%
6. Hull 89%
7. Manchester City 88%
8. Newcastle 73%
9. Sunderland 70%
10. Stoke 68%
11. West Ham 60%
12. Everton 56%
13. Norwich 49%
14. Chelsea 47%
15. Liverpool 45%
16. Manchester United 43%
17. Crystal Palace 40%
18. Aston Villa 39%
19. Tottenham 28%
20. Fulham 24%


And a follow up article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26662957

[Dave Clark Five]

Fulham may be bottom of the list but our experience of the staff who help the disabled is second to none. Where else would they push you in a wheelchair for half a mile outside the ground to reach the main road for a taxi?

[Dave Clark Five]

The away disabled fans do watch from the Trinity, which is about as good as it gets for viewing.

[kipeye]

Tried to advise the General on this once or twice-shouldn't have bothered. Didn't really get it.

[amfy]

This will be addressed in the redevelopment of The North Stand. Currently, it isn't possible to put access on the Witton Lane side due to the climb from street level to the stand. Villa Park sits on a slope where ground level is much lower on Witton Lane than Trinity Road.

Lifts can only ever partially address this (what happens when they break down?) even if you can get lifts into the section of the ground you need to (which I don't think we can) Trinity side has ground level accessibility from the north stand end of the ground. The new North stand can build an away wheelchair area into the Witton Lane side, next to the away fans. The current North Stand has no real potential to build away fan disabled viewing in, even if we moved the away fans back there - it'd always be a shit view.

It is one of the facilities issues which makes the rebuild desirable.

[flybo]

I am a disabled supporter i have been to most away games this season.
I have done all away grounds in the prem just palace will be the last.
1. Swansea has a good view
2. Southampton is pitch level
3. Cardiff is pitch level
4. Arsenal is one of the best but not good for escorts they have to stand to sea the game they are behind the wheelchairs.
5. West Brom is pitch level
6. Hull has a good view
7. Manchester City is not good if the away fans stand you can not see the goal at the away end.
8. Newcastle is a good view but like most of you know that go away you are in the gods.
9. Sunderland have moved the away fans was pitch level but now have to use a lift to get to your place but a good view
10. Stoke is not a bed view
11. West Ham is another one with a lift but we a not close to home or away fans we are on a belcony above the home fans
12. Everton is pitch level
13. Norwich is pitch level
14. Chelsea is pitch level
15. Liverpool is pitch level with home fans :-(
16. Manchester United has two levels but it is a good view
17. Crystal Palace not been yet but will be behind the away fans but if they stand will see very little of the game
18. Aston Villa i love my spot the only probs sometimes i can not see the corner north stand when we have a corner.
19. Tottenham is pitch level
20. Fulham has a rased platform but it can be hard to see the game.

take a look at this site if you want and you will see some reviews fans have written
and some pics from a disabled section for most prem grounds.

http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/

[Chipsticks]

I am a disabled supporter i have been to most away games this season.
I have done all away grounds in the prem just palace will be the last.
1. Swansea has a good view
2. Southampton is pitch level
3. Cardiff is pitch level
4. Arsenal is one of the best but not good for escorts they have to stand to sea the game they are behind the wheelchairs.
5. West Brom is pitch level
6. Hull has a good view
7. Manchester City is not good if the away fans stand you can not see the goal at the away end.
8. Newcastle is a good view but like most of you know that go away you are in the gods.
9. Sunderland have moved the away fans was pitch level but now have to use a lift to get to your place but a good view
10. Stoke is not a bed view
11. West Ham is another one with a lift but we a not close to home or away fans we are on a belcony above the home fans
12. Everton is pitch level
13. Norwich is pitch level
14. Chelsea is pitch level
15. Liverpool is pitch level with home fans :-(
16. Manchester United has two levels but it is a good view
17. Crystal Palace not been yet but will be behind the away fans but if they stand will see very little of the game
18. Aston Villa i love my spot the only probs sometimes i can not see the corner north stand when we have a corner.
19. Tottenham is pitch level
20. Fulham has a rased platform but it can be hard to see the game.

take a look at this site if you want and you will see some reviews fans have written
and some pics from a disabled section for most prem grounds.

http://www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/

Very interesting to read, Flybo. Don't think I'd honestly ever even considered what going to football would be like for the disabled, glad it hasn't gotten in the way of you going to see the Villa!

[Simon Ward]

Great post flybo and the BBC article is well worth a read.

[Damo70]

I accompanied a disabled guy to a few games a few years back when his mate couldn't go with him. He parked in the disabled spaces near the club shop then I would push him across the North Stand car park straight up the ramp into the Trinity. Great view and there was basically a seat for the accompanying person then a space for a wheelchair alongside. The only criticism I would have is the lack of seats. If I remember correctly the disabled section was always full. I read yesterday that only three PL clubs have what is considered the acceptable amount.

[Brend'Watkins]

My wife has just changed careers and is now assisting disabled people.  One of her clients is a Blues fan, goes to all the away games.  She travels with him to Milwall on Tuesday night next week. 

[Chipsticks]

My wife has just changed careers and is now assisting disabled people.  One of her clients is a Blues fan, goes to all the away games.  She travels with him to Milwall on Tuesday night next week. 

Christ they couldn't pay me to go to that.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

The view at Villa Park for disabled fans is brilliant. Obviously there isn't enough but hopefully they'll improve that when they do the North Stand. I've been to lots of away stadiums and the vast majority is pitchside. Stops me going to away games if I'm honest.

[Clampy]

My wife has just changed careers and is now assisting disabled people.  One of her clients is a Blues fan, goes to all the away games.  She travels with him to Milwall on Tuesday night next week. 

What has she done to deserve being sent there? Please send her my condolences.

[flybo]

My wife has just changed careers and is now assisting disabled people.  One of her clients is a Blues fan, goes to all the away games.  She travels with him to Milwall on Tuesday night next week. 

Millwall is not good I was stuck in the ground for half hour could not get directly to my coach.
Police would not open the gates due to millwall fans.
So good luck mind you small heath will only take about 400. lol

[Brend'Watkins]

My wife has just changed careers and is now assisting disabled people.  One of her clients is a Blues fan, goes to all the away games.  She travels with him to Milwall on Tuesday night next week. 

Millwall is not good I was stuck in the ground for half hour could not get directly to my coach.
Police would not open the gates due to millwall fans.
So good luck mind you small heath will only take about 400. lol

I think she said she was going with a club coach for the disabled which apparently drops them (about 15 or so) right by the ground.