Peterborough United

Firstly would like to show my unwavering support for Darragh, Darren and Barry, and all Posh staff, we are a lucky club as most of the fans know, but for a few with short memories.A great season and if we can get lucky enough to sign a young 30 goal striker next year, we wont need to bother with the play-offs!Congradulations to all at the Posh,and to our fans moving forward. Poshkev, 70 years a Posh Fan.

I am a powerchair user and my husband is a long cane user. We visited as away fans, travelling in an accessible minibus that is part of our Club’s official away travel. We are shocked to find our last LPF reviews of Posh were 8 and 9 years ago, either the intervening years have gone quickly or we have not reviewed our more recent visits! In view of our previous (albeit somewhat aged) reviews, we are restricting this to updates. In this context the first thing we need to report is that all the photos of the accessibility features at Posh are no longer available on Posh’s website as they were in 2014. Our review saying how helpful this was, was clearly well appreciated by the Club. Hopefully they are in process of updating the information for visiting disabled fans and their photos will return (or a video as many Clubs are now doing). Posh’s website does have a section “Disabled Fans” found under the “Club” tab but it is not particularly detailed on the provisions for away disabled fans.

Arrival and Entry into the Ground
In the past 12 years or so that we have been going to London Road, the approach has changed a lot. The building work around it is now completed and you approach the stadium through a lot of newly built housing. We were allowed to park kerb side just past the away end in front of a newly built business centre, where we noticed that there were specific disabled parking bays that had disabled away fans’ vehicles parked in them. From here it is just a short distance on the flat to enter the ground in the right hand corner of the relatively small away end entrance. As the only dropped kerb appears to be either side of the away entrance, I just went down the road til I found the dropped kerb. From the away entrance it is a very short distance through the back of the stand to the pitch side.

Seating Area for Away Wheelchair Fans
On the right as you approach the pitch. As I have previously said, good uninterrupted views of the pitch but a complete “come dancing with wheelchairs” fiasco if the wheelchair user in the furthest right space wants to go to the loo and then everyone else to the left has to move out. Clearly designed by someone who knew nothing about the space that wheelchair fans require. This time, we did have some away fans walking in front of us to get to their seats which in itself was not an issue but I did complain to the Supervisor about the steward who walked along the low narrow wall in front of us, one slip and he would have landed on my knee. As far as I can recall there was no flat access seating other than the carer seats in the wheelchair area. The seating immediately behind us appeared to be reserved for those with young children or requiring easy access seating. All the away fans sat behind us who came to speak to us, commented how much colder it was where we were sat compared to where they were higher up, there was a very cold wind on a December evening and had it rained we would have been very wet, so dress with this in mind.

Audio Match Commentary
Arrangements the same as previously. We got a swift response to filling in the “contact us” form on the Club’s website (on the “Club” tab) from Lesley the receptionist who helpfully told my husband that she would be working on reception at the match and would look out for him, which she did, immediately recognising him and addressing him by name, a nice touch. Albeit she did comment, “I hope you know how these work, because I haven’t got a clue!” We normally don’t want to be trailing round collecting and returning headsets but the reception is very close to the away end and easily reachable both before and after the game. We noted the receivers are the new digital type. You need to have your own headphones which is now pretty standard. My husband said the commentary was fair and helpful.

Accessible Toilet
It would appear no change from 8 years ago. Again, I deliberately avoided having a drink to minimise the likelihood of me needing the loo as I was first in the seating area and didn’t want to uproot everyone. The person next to me did go, long before KO and reported that the accessible toilet was very dirty. As we were almost first in, we thought it was highly unlikely that it had already been used that evening and most probably had been left like this from the last match, which somehow made it seem worse. There were generally negative comments about the toilets at the away end, that they were generally inadequate in number and the metal ones that you see in prison cells.

Catering
To add to the burger van at the away end there is now also an outdoor bar which was generally viewed as a new addition and an attempt to improve the facilities for away fans along with the metal railings that were now in position to make a distinct away fans area outside the away turn styles. This is in no doubt connected to how little room there is in the back of the away stand. Although we didn’t attempt to get refreshments ourselves, we were told it was very congested and generally inadequate, not helped by fans following the signs to a second counter only to find it closed and then having to make their way back, adding to the congestion. Otherwise, the reports were that it was standard stadium catering.

Stewards
Stewards outside were very quick to approach us when they saw us trying to work out where to go which was helpful and quickly got us into the ground without any fuss. The Supervisor who I twice complained to before the game, took swift action on both occasions and came back to me to apologise about the toilet and confirm it had been cleaned, which I was later told had happened. Otherwise, stewards were largely inconspicuous with none checking we were ok at anytime. About 5 mins from the end of the game a line of stewards were moved in front of us, totally blocking our view, when I said to the one in front of me “tell me you are not going to stand there”, he helpfully told me he was! A moment later all the stewards were given the “down” instruction, so we were able to see over them.

Leaving the Stadium
No issues. Priority was given to the official away travel leaving the stadium, which is always well appreciated.

Will we go again
Yes, a relatively local ground for us which helps my efforts to avoid going to the loo and the hassle that would involve!

Every week it seems I have to argue/make my point vehemently with Stewards about food allergies hidden disabilities, turnstile issues and patting down my 15yr old. My 12yr old was in full on meltdown today because Peterborough stewards told us they had no suitable seats WHAT! and that they needed to be pre-booked so are there seats he could of used? I did email fans@theposh.com however there was no reply. Hidden disabilities are still very much hidden.

I want to comment about the appalling treatment we recieved from the Peterborough stewards re disabled parking. We travelled from Walsall and arrived at London Rd at approx 1-10pm. We pulled up on London Road and asked a steward where the disabled parking was,he replied that there were no spaces available in that car park but told us to go to the old main stand car park and ask the stewards there. We arrived at the entrance to the old main stand and again asked for disabled parking with our blue badge for my disabled son. They said there was non available and directed us to a council car park quite a long walk from the stadium they also said that there were only disabled spaces there for specially adapted vehicles which i found quite shocking because that would not cater for people with disabilities that were non drivers. Once parked up at this distant car park we made our way to the away entrance. I noticed that there were 3 disabled parking spaces in front of the main stand that were occupied by 2 cars that were not displaying blue badges this made me very angry so i went into the main entrance to complain. I was told that one of the cars in the disabled spaces was a Directors vehicle not displaying a blue badge and the other vehicle not displaying a blue badge was a players representative that had bought an injured player to the game. I pointed out that this was disgraceful to allow this to happen to allow non disabled attendees to occupy disabled spaces and to turn away legitimate blue badge disabled visitors. In the end because i wasv quoting they were in breach of the Disabilty Discrimination Act we were allowed to send our driver for our vehicle and we were allowed to park in a non disabled space right outside the visitors turnstiles. i found the whole incident was disgraceful by Peterborough United staff and i hope they learn from this and treat disabled visitors with more respect in future and the player and Director should be ashamed of theirselves for parking in disabled spaces. Regards Michael Jenkins.

Little to add to our review dated 21/09/13.

We would recommend clicking on the Disabled Fans tab on Posh’s website. It has excellent photos of all the accessible features at the stadium, including the all important accessible loos. Such photos are so helpful, really hope other clubs do likewise. We have emailed Posh to say this.

There is ongoing building work happening at the Stadium on a new stand behind the far goal. We found the car park arrangements had changed from last season with our mini-bus now only allowed to drop off/pick up at the ground but required to park across the road on the basis that an under pass had been built since last season. If you only visit occasionally, don’t assume the layout will be as it was on your last visit.

Commentary for blind/partially sighted fans was as good as last season’s both in terms of admin and delivery. Even improved as players’ names rather than shirt numbers were used.

Our main criticism which we have made a complaint about and which had nothing to do with us being disabled fans per se, was the presence on the pitch of scantly clad female cheerleaders that drew very offensive sexist chanting.

This was our first visit as away fans to London Road since 2010 and it was clear in the intervening time there had been big improvements in the facilities for wheelchair users.

Access to the Ground

We travelled to the ground in a wheelchair accessible mini-bus that is provided as part of our Club’s official away travel. We approached London Road from a different direction than what I remembered in the past, through an area where there is a lot of new building but which seemed to give a good direct route. The immediate vicinity of the ground is a mixture of residential and small businesses. There is residential building happening very close to the ground as a result of which the Club’s car park is being re-surfaced (possibly extended) so is currently a bit bumpy but the parking was on tarmac. We were parked up very close to our entrance without any problems. The entrance for wheelchair away fans is alongside the entrance for all away fans, ¾ down the left hand side of the ground as you approach it. The players’ coach unloads just by. After entering through a large gate you pass along a short tunnel, leading to the pitchside.

Facilities in the Ground for Away Wheelchair Fans

Viewing Areas

The viewing area for away wheelchair fans is at the front of the away seated fans along the long side of the pitch quite close to the dug outs. The area is raised from pitch level a foot or so by a low brick wall. The view is excellent and we were barely troubled by people walking past. I could get a 3G signal but it was slow and intermittent. We had a dry day, I would guess you are just undercover but could get wet on your front by rain blowing in on you. Drop down fixed carer seats are provided at the side of the wheelchair spaces on a one for one basis. The spaces are painted out on the floor and you are shown to your space on arrival, spaces are quite narrow. I would estimate that there is room for around 8 wheelchair users. The area was clean and clearly newly created as in 2010 the away wheelchair fans sat on the opposite side of the stadium with the home fans in the complete open. (I noticed that a new covered shelter has also been built for the home wheelchair fans.) Given the Club has spent money on improving the facilities for wheelchair fans I thought it was a great pity they have not got it right for the away fans. The area is too shallow, front to back. If you are there first, the only way you can go to the loo is for all the other wheelchair users to move out! Just a few more inches could have avoided this palaver.

Refreshments

There was a refreshment van on the car park close to the away entrance which was open prior to the game and after it. The information on our Club’s web site prior to the game had specifically stated that the provision of hot food for away fans inside the ground was extremely limited and away fans should make the most of the refreshments being sold on the car park! As we went through the tunnel to get to the wheelchair area the refreshment area on the right was pointed out to us but I didn’t get chance to see it and in any case it would have been very difficult for me to get to. The people next to us got hot drinks prior to the match it seemed without difficulty but I didn’t hear any actual reports on the refreshment provisions from others.

Accessible Toilets

Again, as with the refreshments, on our way in, we were told that the accessible toilet was on the right, but due to the fact all the other away wheelchair fans would have had to move to let me out, I deliberately limited what I drank to avoid needing the loo. Making all the other wheelchair users move at half time might be ok but as to get to the loo at half time would mean negotiating my way through a relatively small space full of away fans, my choice would be to go to the loo during play when it would certainly not be ok to disturb others who were watching the match. For wheelchair users to move it is a totally different ball game to able-bodied fans being asked to stand up to let people past.

Headset Commentaries for Blind and Partially Sighted Fans

Available for home and away fans regardless where they are sat. We enquired prior to match day using the Club’s general contact email address and got an almost immediate response, albeit prior booking does not appear necessary. Headsets are collected from the Club’s Reception which is just to the right of the away fans’ entrance. There is a form to be filled in at Reception and staff there are helpful in completing this task. My husband, who uses the headset, said the commentary was excellent, specifically for blind and partially sighted fans and not just the local radio commentary which is provided at some Clubs. Two commentators who each covered half of each half, giving a commentary on what was happening, not just chit chat as can happen. They got the small but hugely important things right, like saying at the outset where in the ground they were commentating from, so you know immediately where their right and left are. My husband did ask me to warn potential users of this service to learn the players’ shirt numbers before hand as this is what is used rather than players’ names early on. My husband was told that he could return the headset at the end of the game to Reception or hand it to any steward, which he did to save getting through the crowds. As we recall in 2010 the headset was found under the desk, in a box thick with dust and never worked during the match, Peterborough’s headset commentary service has clearly much improved in the past 3 yrs.

Attitude of Club Officials

Excellent. Helpful and pleasant. Once through the gate the specialist Steward responsible for the away disabled fans introduced herself to each one of us, pointed out where things were and showed us to where we were sitting. During the course of the afternoon she was required to deal with an incident that I considered went well beyond her remit and she dealt with this efficiently and without complaint in a manner which she should be given credit for.

After the Match

All the stewards made a corridor across the car park to allow the away coaches an easy exit. Traffic outside the ground was not as bad as I expected.

Will We go Again?

Yes. Local away ground for us made much better by now being able to sit with our own fans, albeit as I have detailed there is a major shortcoming with the new facility which does not seem to justify the most expensive League 1 ticket I have ever paid to date (£25).

Having just spoken to Mary Faxon at Peterborough I am delighted to find that they do now have a dedicated wheelchair area for away fans in the seated area of the ground. (8 Spaces) . However it is at pitchside and not under cover but at least the carers have a seat with the wheelchairs now.

Pricing was full price for disabled fans and a free ticket for their helpers.

Choice of two stands either seated or terraced. Wheel chair users were accommodated at the front of the terraced stand which was very close to the action and afforded a great view. However the helpers had no choice but to stand.

Our ambulant disabled tickets were for the very back row of the seated stand. Fine for those of us who are able to climb steps but not so good for those with limited mobility! We addressed this with the stewards who informed us there were no spare seats at the front for us to move to. We had no choice but to hobble up the steep steps and stay put once there! One positive was that we did not encounter obscured views as fans with tickets in that stand had chosen to sit down. Facilities were not very good due to the age of the stadium and to add to this when I watched the highlights on the football league show I noted many empty seats at the front of the stand!!!

We went to Peterboro for the match, as a party of disabled supporters from Sheffield United.

Access to the ground:-

We were very surprised to find that Peterboro’s away end was still standing only.

There were no seats for the disabled supporters’ attendants, the Stewards had to bring chairs for them.

The ramp up to the wheelchair area was short, but extremely steep, and was quite dangerous, in my opinion. Especially coupled with the soft, gravelly-surfaced path at the bottom of the ramp, on trackside.

There were also deep groves in the initial concrete paving which threatened to bind on the wheelchair castors as we were being pushed through.

Where we were seated wasn’t a horrendously bad view, as the ground is only very small. There were no markings on the floor to show where each wheelchair was meant to be placed. There wasn’t a lot of room behind the wheelchairs for the other wheelchair users to pass.

We were slightly elevated which was good (About one to two feet?) and there were no seats in front of us to obstruct the view of the pitch.

However, we were in a wind-tunnel, due to being seated next to the massive gate, with nothing to shelter us from the wind. It was dreadfully cold, and exposed, and horrendously uncomfortable.

I asked a Visually Impaired supporter who was in the Away area about the facilitiers for him, about whether the club had supplied a headset for him. They had, and as far as I could ascertain, it worked okay for him.

There didn’t appear to be anywhere on the away end that was accessible, to get a cuppa or pie from.

We were aghast to find that there was only one accessible loo in the ground, and that was on the home stand opposite us. This meant an escort of one of the stewards was necessary.

The loo had no emergency cord.

The door had no disabled-friendly handle to close it, and the knob on the locking mechanism was too small for even someone with reasonable dexterity to operate. (it didn’t work well, and needed holding/ pulling “to” whilst operating the lock. very awkward.)

There were long queues for the loo, as both the away and home sets of disabled supporters were all queueing for the one loo. It was embarrassing and undignified, and totally inadequate for the numbers of disabled people there who would be wanting to use the loo.

I was the first one in, just before half time, and the teams had been kicked off for some time before we got back to the wheelchair area. it was a farce.

The stewards were quite friendly, and fairly helpful. There was a designated steward for our area, who greeted us warmly, and introduced himself, saying “My name’s Mark, I’m the steward for this area. for example, if you need the loo or anything, let me know and I’ll arrange an escort to take you over to the loo.”

Much that could be written about the actual position behind the goal could become redundnt as soon as the beginning of next season, as I understand that they’re redeveloping it for an all-seater before next season begins. But apart for the steepish slope up and having to negotiate a fairly large puddle on the pitch perimeter to get there, it was at least adequate.

On arrival a helpful steward (Daniel) introduced himself. The large, disabled toilet , however, was right at the other end of the West Stand – to the right of where we were positioned. Although on booking tickets I was offered a choice of sitting with the home supporters or the away. Presumably the home supporters have toilet facilities nearer.

I did notice a bar serving snacks ,etc. opposite to where the toilet is, but I think there may be underneath the away supporers stand as well.

Parking was accessible and just behind the away stand.