West Bromwich Albion

I am a stroke sufferer, a home season ticket holder, I want to go to sheffield wednesday on the 21st March.
The club uses Leon’s coaches who give Stoke fans priority with their lift coach, my husband has provided the club and Leons with 8 firms and 20 lift coaches all the firms are prepared to step in if asked, I was told yesterday the 10 the that no coach was available.
We need now to get a very expensive train ticket and will be 3 miles from the ground.
I note you are having a parade at the blues home game this weekend,good luck with that

It’s a long, long time since I was last at the Hawthorns, it’s that long that the pub at one end of the ground under one of the stands isno longer there. getting to the free car park was very easy by car, albeit it’s a shocker to get out of afater the game, but we didn’t mind as we’d won. The disabled toilets were nice and spacious an plenty of them, there was a snack bar which we didn’t need as we’d taken our own sandwiches and flasks. The disabled sit on front rown behind the goal, the stewards stand up everytime the ball comes towards the penalty area, which was very, very frustrating as view wasn’t excellent due to being at eye level with the pitch, they did put the far end of the pitch on the screen when our teamAll as down there which was great for myslef as both our goals were at the far end. The steward in white coat was designated for us the disabled and asked us if we needed anything then just to ask, he also asked if we knew where the tiolets were? The stewards were very good at getting our able bodied fans back into their seats after they ame surging down towards the pitch when we scored our goals. As with most grounds the stewards lined up like tin soldiers with a few minutes to go, blocking my view, my husband told them “I couldn’t see”, but they didn’t move. All in all a pleasant visit.

Well done West Brom.

Our experience was fantastic. A big welcome by the stewards and an area to obtain refreshments with clean toilets and a small sensory area. The disabled seating has been extended with good viewing from all positions.

One of the best experience we have had at a football ground.

Since last season West Brom have made tremendous improvements to there disabled supporter section, this is now via ramps which raises you up to a slightly better position for viewing the game than previously, the disabled section is much larger now running the whole length of the away section, although it is pitchside it is a good view

They have upgraded the refreshment area for the sole use of disabled fans and have 4 or 5 accessible toilets which are very clean

Stewards as always were very welcoming and helpful and looked after myself and my assistance dog simba very well

The ground is up a difficult incline from the away coaches which would pose a problem for wheelchair users but once inside the ground it is okay

Overall a massive improvement from previous experience and I will definitely go again

Having found myself (hopefully temporarily) with limited mobility and on crutches due to a recent severe leg injury, I enquired of the ticket office about any disabled paking for tomorrow’s game but was advised there were not available at the ground but level parking was available at nearby private sites. Having checked the website this advice conflicts totally and when I tried to speak the Liz Massey the Disability Liaison Officer I was advised she want in today and I should call tomorrow ( a bit late as tomorrow is the match day!)

I then called the number of Graeme shown on the website to enquire about disable parking spaces or at least a drop off / pick up pass as advised on the site but the number listed is a private residence in Preston!

WBA really needs to get its act together including on disabled facilities, as its reputation with regard to facilities standards is presently abysmal.

All of the wheelchair spaces at the Birmingham Road end are open to the elements, the prevailing wind is in your face, you get water running off the facia of the stand, the two toilets you mention are used by able bodied supporters.

I have contacted the club by e-mail on several occaisions to complain with a varied response but no improvements are being made, the stewards are excellent.

Amy Wilson, (below) the club do allow disabled supporters to be dropped off in halfords lane which is flat and next to the ground.

I have attended the Hawthorns several times, it is not the easiest of grounds to visit as a disabled supporter in my opinion. If you travel on coaches, access to the ground from the drop off is via an alley way which results is going up a very steep hill to get to side of the ground. I am in a manual wheelchair and can push myself relatively well, but there is no way I could push myself up or down this hill. The companions I have taken with me over the last few years have struggled to negotiate pushing around here and they are used to pushing my wheelchair when needed. Even fellow fans commentated on Monday how hard pushing up the hill must be.

Once inside the stadium, it is disappointing to find there is no access for wheelchairs to the concourses. Luckily, as I know I couldn’t manage to go to this game without a companion, I always have someone with me, so they can go and get any food and drink I may want. However, I am unable to meet up with my mates and have a pre-match or half time alcoholic drink here like we do at so many aways. This isn’t really fair or inclusive.

The away wheelchairs are sat in the far corner of the away end, although you are in with the rest of your supporters, I feel a little bit away from them. There isn’t many other fans around you and it isn’t easy for other fans to come over to you, my cousin managed it on Monday by climbing over seats as he wasn’t allowed by a steward to walk along the front apron.

I find the view from here not the best, you are below the pitch level for starters which is never ideal. You can see the far end goal quite well, but can really make out where the penalty area, deadball line, touchline etc as you are too low. However viewing the near end goal is much more difficult.Icouldn’t see3 of the4goals that we scoreddown thisend on Monday night and only half saw the other goal. It is reallyfrustrating to miss outon seeing goals scored, especially our goals.The viewofany play from approx the 6 yard boxand over to theleft hand side of the pitch wasblockedby photographers and stewards from thefirst whistle. I couldn’t see any corners taken from thefar side with having topress myself up on my arms which isn’t something I can really do for long periods.I watched quite a lot of the play that happened on this side of the pitch on the big screen. Duringcertain parts of the game the view of the far end was blocked by stewards who are congregated to the right of the away end.

Companions behind the wheelchair users in the away end not in the littledisabled area, again this isn’t ideal. The companion of the wheelchair user next to me spent the first 5 or10 minutes of the 2nd half standing between both our wheelchairs helping her friend have a drink.

Getting out of the stadium involves another push up another steep slope as you go out of the ground a different way to the way you came in to it. Again this another push I couldn’t manage by myself. Then you face the push back to coaches which as I have mentioned is tricky to say the least.

Whilst not the worst away ground that I go to through the season, the Hawthorns is not my favourite away trip neither.

I was amazed to find wheel chair users not allowed in fact no access to the food and refreshment sales area at all, the distance the coaches were from the ground unbelievable distance down a steep hill for about 800-1000 yds then through a narrow passage way then a steady up hill climb leading to a very steep and long climb.

I have a 26 year old Gym instructor pushing me at matches a real fit and strong young man, he only just managed to get me up to the ground. Derby fans were chanting about the disgusting mess the place is, my opinion if you are disabled forget the Hawthorns bad bad place to go.

Stewards were really helpful towards us as a wheelchair user.

Nobby (Disability Steward) was extremly welcoming and helpful toward us and other members of our supporters club.

Very clean & fresh toilets which is unusual to see at the football.