Plymouth Argyle

I am a wheelchair user and my husband is a white cane user. This was our second visit in 8 months to Home Park as away fans travelling in an accessible mini-bus. As we wrote a long review on our first visit this is just an update but I think the difference in our experiences between these two visits shows how much easier it is to visit a stadium that you have already been to and can remember which way you need to go.

I have to say from the outset that if anyone is planning on visiting Home Park for either the first time or after a bit of a gap, home or away fans, disabled or not, the best thing you can do is watch the stadium tour video on Plymouth’s website. I have seen a number of these done by various Clubs and think this is by far the best, not least because it covers the provisions for all fans.
https://www.pafc.co.uk/fan-information/first-time-visitors
There is also further written information on accessibility provisions at Home Park at
https://www.pafc.co.uk/fan-information/disabled-supporters-guide
Well done Plymouth.

Arrival and Entry into the Ground
Approaching with the Stadium on your left, we realised that it was the 3rd left hand turn we needed into the car park, in front of the yellow building. The first steward (a Supervisor) who stopped us on the car park when we explained who we were, responded with not the most helpful response of “you can drop off here but I don’t know where you can park”. I guess that he would not have said that to the official away coach drivers and as our minibus is part of the official away travel I would expect it to be afforded the same provisions. Dan Pippen had offered to have us met but as this time we knew to make our way to the far left side of the stadium, we thanked him for the kind offer but said we would be fine. At the far left of the front where there was a corridor cordoned off with a sign saying “away fans entry line”. A distance along this a steward was doing bag searches and checked with us that we were away fans. This steward was efficient, asking if we had any medical supplies in the bag on the back of my chair, which I had never been asked before but he was not particularly welcoming. For anyone new I thought it might have been helpful if he had pointed out that we should keep going until we could not go any further to get to the away end, it is a fair old walk round the outside of the stadium with no signs to the away end. When we did get to the away end we were pounced on by a pack of friendly stewards (we thought they were bored without much custom!) who swiftly got us into the stand.

Seating Area for Away Wheelchair Fans
No changes from what I described in my last review other than we can confirm that waterproofs are required when it rains, thankfully the rain only lasted minutes.

Audio Match Commentary
My husband’s headset was brought to him before KO as we had previously arranged by emailing Dan. He said the commentator was excellent, very helpful and fair. He said the commentator used a brilliantly helpful descriptive technique he had never heard used at any of the many grounds where he has previously had a commentary. The commentator located action on the pitch happening in channels which he likened to motorway lanes.

Catering
Unlike when we visited on the last day of the season there were no catering vans outside the away end. As we took our own food we did not buy anything but others said the catering in the stand was of good quality and average prices.

Accessible toilet
No change from last time, other than the single tap was little more than a dribble and hardly enough to wash the soap off your hands. I did point this out to the nearest steward on my first visit when I arrived and he said he would report it, perhaps unsurprisingly given the nature of the problem it was just the same towards the end of the match. There was no bin for used paper towels. On both occasions I visited, I had to shout to make my presence known whilst I was in the loo as someone was unlocking the door from the outside. Not good for anyone unable to make themselves heard. People with radar keys should be aware that when the door is locked a red circle shows. To avoid this happening, I have suggested to Dan, a notice on the door pointing this out would be useful.

Club Staff
As with my previous visit, although no Nikki this time, really impressed by Club staff who give the impression that they really want visiting fans to have a good experience. Each time I went through the performance of putting on my waterproofs, the nearest steward, realising it was a struggle offered to help which few stewards would do. At the end of the game, they came and asked us for our feedback and took the trouble to write down what we were saying. We have never experienced this in any of the other 80 grounds we have visited. All credit to Plymouth which is why we formed the view that they are really serious about wanting fans to have a good experience.

Leaving the Stadium
I asked Dan Pippin in our email exchange before our visit if our minibus could meet us at the away end at the end of the game as the away coaches had done last time but which our minibus had not. He said that he would make the request which I told the first Supervisor we met about. Whilst this Supervisor may not have been initially helpful about where the minibus could park, to his credit he came and found me before the game, to say that our mini bus would be outside the away end at the end of the game for us and so it was. As it began to pour down just at the final whistle, we were so grateful to find we only had a very short trundle to our bus, that was waiting for us outside the away end. Thank you Plymouth.

Would We Go Again
We found Plymouth Argyle a very impressive Club to visit, which we would be very happy to visit anytime but the very long trip was so physically demanding for me, sadly not sure I could do it again.

(In reply to J&J below)

Firstly, thank you for the feedback – we greatly appreciate all comments and suggestions as this helps us greatly to enhance the matchday experience for all supporters.

With regards to their feedback in terms of ease of access to the ground, your points are valid. From next season we will have a “here to help” team stationed around the ground, so there will be many more members of staff around to meet, greet and provide directions next time, whereas this time there were none.

The patch of rough ground you ended up driving over is not part of the stadium and no member of staff should have instructed you to drive over this area, as the away end is not accessible from this site. Instead, as you allude to, they should have been directed around the other way – please accept our apologies that you were given incorrect instructions. In future, more staff will be present to assist and direct.

Our catering suppliers are changing for next season, so the pasty quality next season should be a big improvement!

Daniel Pippen
Supporter Relations Manager and Inclusion Lead

Our first visit to Home Park as away fans travelling in an accessible minibus that is part of our Club’s official away travel. I am a powerchair user and my husband is severely visually impaired.

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
Large campus stadium, immediately off the main road with parking in front of it. The away coaches dropped off on the road just as we turned onto the site. Our driver went and gained permission to drop us off away from the road up the slope to the right, in front of the Club Shop. No one around to greet us or to tell us where to go. We made our way round to the right and was eventually told to reverse slightly go over some rough ground through a high gate that was slightly open and carry on round to get to the entrance to the away end. Given our route on leaving, not sure if we should have gone the opposite way round the ground to get to the away end? Drinks and burger vans outside the away entrance (we were later told by another fan these were more expensive than the refreshments on sale in the stadium).

Entry for wheelchair users via the large gates next to the turn styles into the underneath of the stadium. Accessible loo (radar key controlled) on opposite wall slightly to your left and entrance to the wheelchair seating area further along to the left, opposite the refreshments.

Seating Provisions
Pitch side, recessed in marked area at the away end from the corner flag across two entrances. We comfortably accommodated 5 wheelchair users, carers (alongside) and some people requiring flat access seating. Seats immediately behind were sheeted off and there was a good space in front so that we felt safe throughout despite it being a sell out crowd on the last day of the season when both teams needed to win. Whether by design or default it seemed the disabled fan’s area was at the quieter end of the away stand which we were also grateful for. Good view of the pitch which we did not find was interrupted in the way that previous reviewers have detailed. It was a warm, dry afternoon so we avoided the rain which others have commented on.

Accessible toilet
Clean with all that would be expected.

Headset Commentary for VI Fans
Despite receiving a phone call a few days before the match to say that unfortunately this would not be available as the commentators were ill, on the day a receiver was brought to my husband in the stadium with the explanation that whilst audio description was not being provided, the Club’s commentary was available and he was welcome to have this. My husband was delighted and reported that it had been very fair. The receiver was collected from him at the end of the game in a timely and unobtrusive way for which he was equally grateful.

Catering
We had two pasties and a coffee for £9.60 which we thought very reasonable. Quality of the pasties not outstanding but edible.

Stewards
One of the very few grounds (and we have been to over 60) that has dedicated Disability Ambassadors (stewards with a specific remit to look after the welfare of disabled fans). Nikki was brilliant. It was Nikki that sorted the commentary for my husband and checked on us all on a number of occasions during the match. Excellent provision which could be valuable at all grounds. Nikki aside stewards did there task unobtrusively.

End of Game/Leaving
The away coaches were outside the away end at the end of the game but not our minibus which would have been helpful. We were funnelled back the opposite way to which we had got to the away end and it did seem a more direct route, albeit when we then got to the front of the stadium we had to make our own way to the opposite side to find our minibus where it had dropped us off. Grateful that the exit from the parking was traffic light controlled. Traffic as you would expect around the stadium was heavy but nothing exceptional and it relatively soon cleared.

Would we go again?
Yes, without hesitation, although we would hope that any future game was not a 12.30 KO, requiring us to be up in time for our official club transport to depart at 5 am, which is not easily compatible with the morning routine of many disabled fans.

As I found it particularly difficult to find the details about provisions for disabled fans on PAFC’s website, you have to hover your mouse to get drop down menus, here is the link you need:

https://www.pafc.co.uk/fan-information/disabled-supporters-guide

In reply to Louise Simpson:

Many thanks to Louise for her post. The SoccerSight team at Home Park are always pleased to receive feedback from listeners – home or away. We hope that you enjoyed the audio-descriptive match commentary by Adam & Philip.

I went to the game with a blind friend. I rang Traveline, who told me we could get the 100 bus from Plymouth train station to the Park And Ride, which was 4 minutes walk from the ground. We found a friendly helpful female home fan, who found us a steward to help us. He took us to another steward, who walked us to the ticket office to get our tickets, which I’d booked over the phone, then to the reception, where we collected the headsets, which were apparently the last two out of the ten, then to the toilets in the directors area, and then to our seats, which were on the front row. We were visited by a steward at half time, who said he’d take us to the bus stop, which he did after the game. We got the 100 back to Plymouth train station. The driver forgot us first time round, so we had to go round again. We had to walk over the bridge to get back to the station.

This was our first visit to Plymouth. It is a VERY long way down to the south west but we arranged to stay with friends in Taunton. We were able to park in the nearby park and ride car park but we’re told that there were no designated disabled bays. A friend had arranged tickets for the pre-game fan festival that takes place in a large marquee next to the ground. The home fans were really friendly and welcoming – the ticket entitled us to a pasty (very tasty) and a beer. The entertainers were keen to have a bit of banter with us and everything was done in good spirit. Unfortunately we had to walk ALL of the way around 3 sides of the stadium to access the away section. The positive aspect of this was that we learned that the club offered specialised commentary for visually impaired supporters and we were able to arrange this at short notice for my father. The match commentary was excellent and informative – one commentator was very professional whilst the other was very excitable & quite biased. The stewards were reasonably helpful & said that we could sit anywhere. The view from the stand was good, but the rain did sweep in and soak those in the front few rows – this would be a particular problem for wheelchair users. Our opinion of the match experience was coloured by the fact that a 3-2 defeat condemned us to relegation & non-league status. It took over 20 minutes to clear the car park. Given the chance, we would like to return to watch a game in happier circumstances.

This was my first visit to Plymouth and as its a long way for disabled son to drive, we decided to stay overnight at a premier Inn.

We were told there were no parking spaces available, so we parked in the local park & ride car park.

I bought the tickets in advance over the phone but they would only post them out at an extra charge.

There was a mobile burger stall outside where we bought a cup of tea as it was the pre packed powdered drinks inside the ground.

The club shop was easily accessible for wheelchairs.

On entering the ground I had to go through a turnstile where both tickets were scanned & son was taken through a gate.

Inside, the teabar had no meat & potato pies, so I had a pricey sausage roll which was very nice & son had a burger which was cold.

There were disabled toilets just inside the ground.

There was also an ice cream cart there as if it wasn’t cold enough, but people did buy them.

Going into the seats we didn’t know where we had to go so I asked a steward who said“anywhere along the front.” As we were the only wheelchairpeople at the away end we could choose where to park ourselves as there were loads of spaces infront of our own fans. But it rained and we got wet.

Outside after the match I again bought us teas from the burger van.

Altogether a good day out.

Disabled car parking is nearby but still a 5/10 minute walk past home fans.

The viewing area was slightly below pitchside but at least with your own fans. I personally don’t like pitchside seating and there were problems with people walking past throughout the game. The roof doesn’t cover the front row so you will get wet if it rains (it did)…

Carers sat behind and if the areas was full, you wouldn’t have been able to sit within the painted yellow box with a carer behind. Also, there was no real protection when fans behind surged towards the front after we scored. This could potentially be dangerous.

An ambulant disabled fan was given a ticket “from the general allocation” as they don’t have identified ambulant disabled seating and sat 5 rows back. He had to move to a spare seat on the front row as the seats were so tightly packed he couldn’t bend his knees/sit comfortably there. I suggest you ask for front row seats if you are in the same position.

Stewards and staff were very helpful.