Walsall

Response from Walsall FC

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for the experience you had at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. As a club we are striving to improve our inclusivity experience for both home and away fans who visit so all feedback, good or bad, is always welcomed.

Our usual away stand does not have accessible facilities – we just don’t physically have the space to facilitate this although we’d love to create something, and the family stand you were ultimately situated in is where any wheelchair fans go. We totally understand the logistical headaches this can cause.

We have always previously allocated the block where you were to be clear of any home fans, when we are informed that we have any away wheelchair fans attending, so away fans can feel like It’s their block rather than feel intimidated sitting in a home stand. On this occasion, we had a youth match between Walsall FC and Notts County prior to the game, so the additional childrens teams and parents had been allocated in this block too. We actually weren’t aware of any away wheelchair fans coming along for this game until you arrived and it had become apparent you had been sold standard seating in the away stand. The issue was immediately radioed through to the control room and authorisation for you to move around to the family stand was agreed, which is why your ticket wasn’t rescanned. The stewards were aware of your transfer and we also allowed Notts County flags to be put in that block to try and make it feel like you weren’t segregated too much from your own fans.

Again, I can only apologise for any behaviour from the fans behind you. Had our stewards been aware of the situation during the game, then we could have spoken to the parents and children. Our stewards will always act upon information like this.

In regards to the accessible toilets, these are scheduled to be upgraded this summer and I have an accessibility audit in place across the whole stadium, which should help us to improve the overall facilities and experience.

Thank you for your valuable feedback and should you ever visit again, hopefully your experience next time will be suitable improved.

Upon reaching the visitors entrance we were told that we were not allowed to be in the away end but had provisions within the home stand. After asking to see their DSLO a steward arrived and told me that if I’m chair bound I can only go in the home end or basically I’m not getting in. No matter how I formed my argument citing I wanted to be with my travelling friends and they were discriminating against me they were not budging and he pointed my carer and I in the right direction to our entrance and left us to it.

We approached a large double gate where a steward let us in despite being shocked as we were away fans and she thought we were in the wrong section. However, she let us in and told us where to go but at no point was we asked for our tickets. We made our way directly to the pitch and another steward pointed to where we needed to go. No words were exchanged as they could see we were visiting fans as we were wearing our colours due to it being a nice sunny day.

From this point on and for the rest of the day we were made to feel like lepers. We found our seats next to two other wheelchair users and carers but despite being allocated 10 away wheelchair bays which meant 7 were unused, another Away supporter and his carer had to sit amongst the home fans near the halfway line as he was told there was no room where we were sitting. Absolute rubbish as there was ample room and wheelchair spaces.

The three accessible toilets in the stand were disgusting, dirty and not Stoma friendly (so if you visit Walsall FC be warned if you have a Stoma). I asked the steward if they had any toilets adequate for people with a Stoma and he said no. Also, the walk to a from the toilets was like running a gauntlet of hate and derision from the home fans. Maybe if we weren’t wearing our team’s colours we’d have been ok but why in this day and age can we not go to a match and support our team without this kind of abuse especially when the home clubs policy is to tick a box or two and fail to provide adequate away fans facilities to wheelchair supporters to save a few quid.

Where we were seated we were subjected to snide comments and other provocation by the home supporters including children all game. At one point my carer confronted one lady who told her we should not be in this stand and to get with our own supporters. When my carer retorted “we want to be in there but your club will not let us and sat us here”. At this point we decided to let them get on with it as we did not wish any trouble and with no stewards nearby they were allowed to get away with it. One visiting fan in the away section saw what was happening and unbeknown to us took some photos and at the end of the game she reported it to the police and a senior steward. We only found this out once we’d left the stadium and bumped into us in the car park. At this point the main safety steward came up to us too and apologised for everything that we had been subjected to and advised me to write to the club which I shall be doing along with the photographs.

Unless Walsall FC change their policy I will advise all travelling wheelchair supporters to don a very thick skin for the day especially if you’re wearing your club colours and or are vocal in any capacity. I really wish I did not have to write such a negative review but they should change their song from the Black Country to the “Back Country” as they really are behind the times.

Just a short (by our standards!) update on the changes for myself as an away wheelchair fan and my husband who is a white cane user since our lengthy review a year ago. This was the first time in over a decade that our Club’s official away travel accessible provision for me consisted of a wheelchair space on a double decker! This shows there are now different options available to Clubs to offer away transport to wheelchair users.

Rail Travel to Walsall
We now know from bitter personal experience that although Bescot Stadium Rail Station is across the road the from away end it has no step-free access so is useless for away fans who require this. If travelling to the match by train, you need to book special assistance for Walsall Station and ask Special Assistance to provide a taxi (wheelchair accessible if required) to Bescot Station at their expense.

Tickets
It was only when I read our last review that I was reminded that just last year we had to purchase our tickets from Walsall. Well done Walsall for changing the arrangements you have for the sale of tickets for away wheelchair fans by now sending them to the away clubs to sell in the same way as all the other tickets for away fans.

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
Our bus entered on the home side and on past visits has been made to turn round but on this visit was allowed to continue and the barrier to the away end was opened for us. We could then park just yards from the away entrance that consisted of two turnstiles and a large gate to the left of them. Despite knowing that I had always had to enter with the home fans around the adjacent side, I approached the stewards and asked if as an away wheelchair fan I could sit at the away end. Initially I was refused and told that my tickets were for the family stand (they seemed reluctant to admit to me the family stand was a stand for home fans!) but I persisted with my arguments. They were clearly uncomfortable when I trotted out my usual “we are being treated like modern day lepers cut off from our own community” and “if I was an able bodied away fan sat in the home end you would evict me”. As it was clear I was not going to go quietly, they agreed to go and ask if I could sit at the away end. Victory (for the second visit in a row), they returned to tell me I could sit at the away end. So then my next question was, “and can my fellow wheelchair fans who will be here shortly?”! This was met with more prevarication but needless to say we all ended up together in the away end. We were told that building work has started to make provisions for away wheelchair fans in the away end and one of the stewards I was speaking to did concede he would not be happy as an away fan to be sat in the home end.

Seating Area
Once in the away end we were shown to the furtherest right side. My husband was then informed that he would have to sit in the seats behind me as if others saw him standing they would copy him. We explained that as there was no headset commentary for the game, I needed him by me so I could easily tell him about what was happening and also if he was sat behind me he could not help me! The response to this was that they moved the few away fans that were sat behind us into the block directly behind the goal and used notice boards to prevent anyone else coming into the block where we were (although they did let people through who wanted to talk to us). We were happy with this arrangement as we could not be crushed if fans surged forward and the practice goal was on the other side to us so we were protected from the stray balls of that. We also enjoyed good, uninterrupted views of the pitch throughout the game.

Accessible Toilet
The absence of accessible toilets in the away end was one of the reasons given to us why we were not sat in the away end. Such an argument ignores the fact that it is not just wheelchair users/those with mobility issues who require accessible toilets. As it was, sat at the away end, we had to go into the adjacent home stand 2/3 along and underneath the stand to the back to find the accessible toilet, which was clean, a good size with warm water, hand soap and paper towels.

Catering
With the closure of the much loved Saddlers Club, there is now an away fans bar under the away stand although we did not venture to find this. Others reported that the catering was of good quality and reasonable.

Stewards
Although it took a bit of effort from us, they did show that they were prepared to make changes to accommodate our requests and once we were seated various stewards over the course of the evening did check that we were all ok without being intrusive.

Leaving the Stadium
No issues.

Overall
Will be good on a future visit to see in practice the accessibility improvements to the away end at Walsall so we won’t need to “battle” our way into the away end.

The stewards were very helpful as like myself ambulant disabled were allowed to sit in first or second row on left hand side of away stand. There was no access to disabled toilets

This is an update on our previous review written in 2012 (although I do have photos showing more recent visits than 2012). This said, the only changes seem to be that the hugely popular fans social club has now permanently closed and it is no longer the Banks’s Stadium but the Poundland Bescot Stadium! One lesson we learnt on this visit was if you are away fans approaching with the stadium on your left, don’t take the lst entrance you come to, the away car park is the second entrance with the hotel on your right. In view of this, we only have 3 observations on our most recent visit.

Purchasing Tickets
To purchase tickets as away wheelchair users, unlike all other away fans we had to ring Walsall for them, we don’t understand why there cannot be parity with other away tickets and have them sold through our own box office. As I think is often the case with disabled fans, one of our wheelchair fans is unable to purchase tickets on the phone and whilst I am more than happy to purchase their ticket when I purchase mine, it is all extra needless effort. Given the current postal strikes, I was at least pleased to hear the tickets could then be emailed to me as otherwise we would have the hassle of trying to locate our tickets when we got to the ground, which we know from other grounds can be problematic. I am sure in the past we have been able to get our Walsall tickets from our own Box Office. What I did check was that this did not mean we would now be getting emails advertising Walsall games as has happened with other Clubs we have had to purchase our tickets direct from. Just to add insult, I was initially asked for £48 instead of £10 for the tickets I was purchasing, good job I was awake!

Parking Charges
We travelled to this game (as with all away games) in an accessible mini bus that is part of our Club’s official away travel. For this match there was only myself and my husband in the minibus (I am a powerchair user and he is severely visually impaired) but the car parking charge was £6, £1 more than we paid for our tickets for the Pappa Johns Trophy game. I did ask a steward why it cost more to park than the cost of the ticket but I was not given any answer.

Seating
The seating area for away wheelchair fans at Walsall is always in the home stand at a 90 degree angle to the away fans so that you are at least close to your own fans. On this occasion, as it was such a small crowd (1,070 in total!), the away fans were not behind the goal but at one end of the home stand opposite to us. Without expecting anything, I asked my usual question of our steward, “why are we being treated as modern day lepers cut off from our own community, why can’t we sit with our own fans?” He told me he would ask for us, and very quickly he came back with the answer we could move round, then before we could move, we were told we couldn’t, so complaints from two of us then led to further discussions and finally success, we were allowed to move round to the other side of the stadium and sit with our own fans. It made such a difference to be part of the away following fans and their banter. This is the first time in 12 years of going to nearly all our away games, that I can recall having such a success. It just shows, if you don’t ask, you will never get!

Well after I got my ticket claiming reserved seating found we could sit where we wanted you pretty much I ended on Row C though there was more room on Row B the club refused to remove the netting on Row A at the front and I had literally no.leg room. I will contacting the club and not be going next season

Attended Wolves match with a group of ambulant disabled supporters with varying needs, two with learning disabilities and one with limited mobility. As usual we called Walsall prior to purchasing tickets in order to establish what seats would meet our needs specifically the need to avoid any steps. The advice we were given proved to be inaccurate when we went to our own box office as the requested seats were not available! When we arrived at Walsall, free blue badge parking was readily available close to our entrance. However, we discovered our seats were accessed via 6 steps. After explaining our problems to the stewards, they were very accommodating and removed some netting to enable us to sit together on two rows including the front row which was level access and afforded reasonable view of the pitch. Unfortunately our view was very obscured at times due to stewards and police standing in front of us but the atmosphere was very volatile due to the locality of the two clubs and so was understandable. Overall a reasonable experience.

Level entry to the ground round side and accessed by home and away fans. Nice fans bar just inside ground serving both sets of fans. 10 wheelchair spaces with carers adjacent. Pitchside but good views. 2 disabled toilets basic but clean. Handy refreshment bar at side of away fans. Very helpful stewards. Coaches parked nearby in large car park.

We arrived very late at 2/45 for 3pm kick off the weather was blowing a gale and very wet.

We asked the stewards were we could park they moved cones to fit us in they were Fantastic. I am able to walk with crutches the stewards let me inside through the main door.There was seating and space for wheel chairs around the ground. The Walsall fans sitting around the pitch were very wet but thats football.

Tea and Coffee very good Pies very good but watch the Pies they are very hot.

Toilets. Clean and tidy.I could not fined any Disabled toilets. I am ok without Disabled Toilets.

Overall our experence at Walsall was very good.

Our 3rd visit as away fans in the past 2 years. Stadium is literally at the side of the M6, albeit we are directed a different way south back to the motorway at the end of the game than we arrive. We have always visited as part of our club’s official away travel and have never had any problems with parking at the ground close to our entrance. There is a wheelchair accessible bar (social club) at the stadium which away fans are welcome to use for a nominal entrance fee. There is a hotel next to the ground but it seems no other facilities in the immediate vicinity. We have found all the stewards at Walsall exceptionally friendly, chatty and helpful. Away wheelchair users are seated at pitch level at one end of the home stand with PA seats at the side of spaces. I would estimate about 8 spaces, always been plenty when we have visited. Ground is compact so you are close to the action and need to be vigilant for stray balls! On the occasions we have been there have been no home fans behind us and as we have been at right angles to and looking across at the away fans we have not felt isolated from them. The accessible loo and snack bar we have used has been in the home area and stewards have let us through the gates to access these. Should you be lucky enough to be there when it is sunny the area were the away wheelchair fans sit is in full sun although I was able to find a shady corner when it just got too hot! I also seem to remember on a previous occasion the wind driving the rain onto me at the same spot, so worth taking waterproofs. No headset commentary available for visually impaired fans. Would happily visit again.