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Men’s Football

Walsall

League 2
Banks's Stadium
Capacity: 10,910
Poundland Bescot Stadium
Bescot Crescent
Walsall
WS1 4SA

Disabled supporters contact

Club or stadium contact
 for disabled fans

Samantha Page
Disability Liaison Officer (DLO)

01922 651416 option 0

General ticket office contact

Liz Champion
Ticket Office Manager

01922 651416

Accessible ticket contact

Samantha Page
Disability Liaison Officer (DLO)

01922 651416 option 0

Accessibility information

Number of wheelchair user spaces

Home

Actual:
26
Target:
-

Away

Actual:
10
Target:
-
There are 36 wheelchair bays in the Community Stand (26 home, 10 away), which are at pitch-level.

Number of easy access and amenity seats

Actual:
-
A number of seats are available on the front row of the Main Stand, Poundland Lower Tier and Community Stand which are suitable for supporters who are unable to climb steps or require extra legroom.

During inclement/poor weather, alternative seating may be available to both the disabled supporter and their carer in the Stadium Suite.

A lift is available so you will not be required to climb stairs unnecessarily.

Number of accessible toilets

Actual:
5
Walsall currently have 5 accessible toilets available which are located in the Bonser Suite entrance (1), the Stadium Suite (1) and the Community Stand (3).

Signage in the ground will indicate the direction of the closest accessible toilet. Should you require assistance in getting to and/or from an accessible toilet, please ask a steward.

Audio commentary

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer this.

Sensory room

Unfortunately, this is not something we currently have.

Accessible services + information

Assistance dogs

Guide Dogs and hearing assistance dogs are allowed into the Stadium but the Club insists that supporters with Guide or Assistance Dogs contact the club before a match so that we can discuss with them access to the ground, facilities inside the ground and the welfare of the guide dog before, during and after the match.

Ticket Office staff will usually offer tickets on the end of a row and/or on the front row.

Hearing loops

The ticket office does have a hearing loop.

Club shop

Unfortunately, the Club Shop does not have a low level serving counter but the Staff are more than happy to assist.

Club hospitality

Lift access is available in the Bonser Suite reception area (Savoy Lounge entrance), which leads to the Savoy Lounge, matchday restaurant, executive boxes and 1888 Lounge.

Braille and large print provision

Club do not currently provide any disabled supporters information i.e. booklet with a map of accessible facilities in accessible formats (large print, easy read).

Accessible lounge

Lift access is available in the Bonser Suite reception area (Savoy Lounge entrance), which leads to the Savoy Lounge, matchday restaurant, executive boxes and 1888 Lounge.

Food concession stands

There are not currently accessible catering facilities i.e. low level serving counters at kiosks, available.

Total number of parking spaces

Walsall currently have 25 dedicated disabled parking spaces on site.

These are all allocated to season ticket holders, but should you require disabled parking, please speak to the car park stewards on your arrival and they will help find the best available space. Please have your blue badge clearly displayed. We also offer a ‘drop-off’ service close to the turnstiles.

All parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the game, with car parks open from midday for a Saturday matchday and 5pm for weekday matches.

Parking is £7 per car, although there are additional charges for minibuses and coaches. Pre-booking of parking is not available.

If the block in which you normally sit is made available to away supporters for a specific match, or you wish to sit in the Stadium Suite due to inclement weather, alternative parking may be available to use.

Please email laura.greenhouse@walsallfc.co.uk or ring 01922 651416 for further information.

Travel options

Bescot Railway Station is situated across the road from the stadium, it is served by trains from Birmingham Grand Central (New Street) and Wolverhampton. We advise travelling fans to use Walsall station for disability access as we have been made aware that Bescot Station is not able to support access needs.  If you need any further information please let me know.

This page was reviewed and updated by Level Playing Field staff and the club on 19 May 2023.

How we set targets

We use accepted industry standards to set the club targets. The reference documents include: Accessible Stadia Guide 2003 and Accessible Stadia Supplementary Guidance 2015; Building Regulations Approved Document M, Access to and Use of Buildings; BS 8300, Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people; Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide); Access for All, UEFA and CAFE Good Practice Guide to Creating an Accessible Stadium and Matchday Experience

Have you got a question, complement or complaint?

Let us know about your matchday experience at Walsall to help improve access and inclusion.

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Read comments from other fans

About this page

This information is provided by Walsall. Level Playing Field (LPF) cannot be held responsible if the service and provision differs from what is stated here.

If you have any queries please contact us.

Updated September 2023

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Fan comments

Comments reflect the views of the fans themselves and do not necessarily reflect the views of LPF.

  • J &J, who attended 03/10/23
    5 months ago

    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.

  • Peter Blay, who attended Walsall v Orient
    1 year ago

    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

  • J &J, who attended 18/10/22
    1 year ago

    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!

  • Martin Sims, who attended Burton Albion
    8 years ago

    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

  • Lin, who attended Wolves
    9 years ago

    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.

  • Janet Ireland, who attended Walsall v Sheffield United
    10 years ago

    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.

  • Barry Carter, who attended Walsall v Carlisle United 06/10/2009
    11 years ago

    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.

  • J and J, who attended V's MK Dons 08/09/12
    11 years ago

    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.