Chelsea

Hi there Simon, I hope this finds you well.

It’s fantastic that your match day experience is positive, but the data for the ‘Away match day survey’ is sadly saying that this is not the case for many supporters who travel to an away game.

Using the data from this survey, the aim now is to make sure that the away match data experience improves.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us and let us know about your experience. All the best. Liam, Fans Liaison Officer

I have just read the article on the BBC, where it quotes yourself as saying The matchday experience for disabled football fans among the visiting support is “not fit for purpose”.
This may be true in many cases, but I feel I have to let yoou know my experience as a disabled fan.
I am a Disabled Member Season Ticket Holder for bothe Chelsea FC and Newcastle United FC, and can say the service and experience is nothing short of exceptional! Chelsea even have a dedicated Disabled phone line, manned by sypathetic and knowledgable staff.
In all experiences, from booking to attendance of matches, it has been easy and straight forward with very kind and sympathetic staff, nothing is too much trouble!
I welcome your response, but feel the need to set matters straight so not all cubs are “tainted with the same brush”!

I think you need to update the bit whereby you say where the away disabled fans are located. Shocking view albeit elevated as when the home team are shooting towards us the home fans all stand up, take selfies and tons of photographs, most looked like they were one offs due the them having a match day ticket in their hand an unaware of their seating.

Had a wonderful day
The disabled supporter coach was allowed to drop off and collect right outside the ground though there was still a short distance to walk which my Guid Dog enjoyed.

Inside the ground the staff were fantastic. There was food and drink outlet at the back of the supporters area

The wheelchair spaces were spacious unlike Everton so my Guide dog had plenty of room to chill.

I will be back next season

I arrived as usual by Tube at Fulham Broadway station. This station is street to train level wheelchair access, as is Earl’s Court for both the Piccadilly and District Lines. This makes Stamford Bridge one of the easier London grounds for wheelchair users to reach by Underground.

I was pleased to find that the wheelchair platform for visiting supporters has been completely revamped. The new arrangement meets the current standard of being able to see the pitch even fans in front stand. This is a substantial improvement. It’s most welcome.

The welcome accorded and the efficiency of stewards both outside and inside the ground was first class. My thanks to them. Refreshments are nearby. The counter is at a convenient height for wheelchair users. Service was efficient and friendly. If only the prices weren’t quite so larcenous!

Another game another season at Stamford Bridge and the view still remains awful for wheelchair users with Chelsea FC making no effort to make simple reasonable adjustments to improve sightlines for away wheelchair users. One set of goalposts and any action down far side and much of the penalty area was completely blocked with standing supporters, yet Chelsea net the front two rows but nothing at the back to assist with the views of wheelchair users (See attached pics) There was only one toilet available at half time because a steward was ill in the other one prior to the game and 45 minutes later it still hadn’t been cleaned. Arrived on the official disabled access supporters coach which dropped off and picked up outside the stadium.

Having attended the match yesterday at Stamford Bridge, I was disappointed yet again that Chelsea have made no effort to make our experience any better.

I was unable to see the goal and what was going around the goal at one end and my view was blocked by two men who were standing in front of me. Whilst I understand that if fans sit down to watch the match, I would have had an interupted view, it is never going to happen and therefore the club should look at better facilities for the disabled. A way to partially resolve the situation is to block off the two rows in front of the disabled seats (no. 28-32) and seat 32 should not be sold as the view is blocked by a wall and additional seating should be installed to meet the required number in the Stadia Guidelines.

Wheelchair public transport access to Stamford Bridge is good with both Earl’s Court and Fulham Broadway Underground stations on the District line having street to train step-free access. At Earl’s Court there is step free access to Piccadilly line trains to King’s Cross St Pancras which is also step-free train to street. West Brompton station is also within a mile of Stamford Bridge. This has street to platform access to the Overground with helpful staff who will put down a portable ramp for wheelchair users without prior arrangement. Just turn up and tell them your destination station. They’ll call ahead for you to be met with a portable ramp to alight.

Access to the away end is efficient but could be better signposted. Our view was elevated which I much prefer with little obstruction of view even with supporters standing in front of us. It was better than many Premier League grounds currently offer to visiting wheelchair fans but not as good as some.

The refreshment kiosks have no dropped counters but aren’t built particularly high so this is less of a problem than at many grounds. The price and quality of the hot flood on offer was scandalous however. Avoid at all costs. There are lots of better alternatives near the ground.

With permission from Access Advisr

Accessibility at Stamford Bridge started with Chelsea kindly arranging for me to park in the shopping centre car park by Fulham Broadway station.Following a drink and a bite to eat, we made our way to the ground. We did the ‘tour’ around Stamford Bridge and then made our way into the stadium, up a slope which had a reasonable gradient. Once inside we went to our position behind the goal.Unlike some grounds (Brighton, Swansea), the viewing area is high enough above the seats in front so that those standing (which I don’t mind) do not obscure the view. At Chelsea (as at Charlton), this wasn’t the case. The nearest goal was obscured so that after I saw Glenn Murray head the ball I had to wait for the crowds reaction to see that we had scored (Did I mention we won by the way?).There were two toilets for disabled away fans. The one I chose was cramped and barely enough room to get my chair in. I’m assured though that the other one has plenty of room!Stewards were friendly as usual.

Stewards where helpful and polite. Michael relies on a headset for match commentary. The one supplied by Chelsea is a disposable ear piece. On previous occasions it has not provided a reliable service. Last night was no exception, it did not work, completely dead. Luckily Michael brings his own DAB radio for such eventualities so could use that to get commentary on the game.

Went to the game as a carer for my sister. My sister doesn’t always need a carer with her to go the match but she cannot manage to go to Stamford Bridge on her own for the following reasons:-

1) The away coaches park in Imperial Road which is a good 10 minute walk away from the ground if not more. Although my sister can push her manual wheelchair herself, she would struggle pushing that distance and then getting through the crowds on Fulham Road to the away end. The coaches were parked more or less outside the ground at the end of the game which hasn’t happened in some years and it was much better.

2) The view from the elevated platform at the back of the Shed End is relatively poor. Fans standing up in the rows in front as all aways fans do, means that wheelchair users struggle seeing the goalmouth at the Shed End as well as the far side of the pitch. Any action down this end of the pitch, my sister had to press herself up on her arms to try to see which causes her discomfort in the days after. When she couldn’t do that I had to tell her what was happening. The other wheelchair users there on the night all complained that they found it hard seeing. Myself and the rest of the carers had to stand behind the wheelchairs all game as there are no carer seats provided on the elevated platform. Though if seats were provided we would have struggled seeing just like the wheelchair users.

I believe Chelsea do not charge for the away disabled supporters, a good thing too, when the disabled supporters have so many problems in seeing the whole game clearly.

Found the staff to be very helpful, poor parking facilities near the ground but easy access into the ground once parking had been found.

The view from the away end can only be described as very poor because as soon as there is any standing you have no view.

There is no point in Chelsea giving free tickets if you cant see the event the ticket is for, I find this annoying, it is as if Chelsea are saying yes we know that you have no view so we give you free tickets. You’re missing the point Chelsea!

I have been to Stamford Bridge many times with Everton and whether sat in the East stand or the Shed end, the view for disabled supporters has never been very good. Sitting down on the front in the East stand the view was continually blocked by the stewards. In the Shed end the view is blocked as soon as the supporters in front stand up, which is basically all game. Yes, I know this shouldn’t happen, but it happens in all away ends, other grounds have managed to work out how to have an elevated platform where disabled fans can still see no matter if the fans in the seats below stand or not. As you will see from the photographs, disabled fans have little or no view of the goal at the Shed end and the far side of the pitch too. To stand any chance of seeing any of the play at this end of the pitch, I had to press myself up into half standing position using my arms, even then I still couldn’t see very clearly. Doing this is something I cannot do for very long as it causes me to be in pain which lasts for a couple of days but it is the only option available to me to try to see the match. When I was unable to press myself up, I had to ask my brother who was my carer on the day what was happening as I literally could not see anything from my seated position. This situation has never improved in the years that the away fans have been in the Shed end, but for some reason things seemed so much worse after Wednesdays visit, I had to press myself up far more than I have ever done before to try to see and it is only now, days after the game that discomfort I had in my arms, shoulders and back has eased up.

I know the tickets are free for away disabled supporters, which is the least Chelsea can do, given the difficulties the fans have seeing the whole game from this viewpoint. I feel that by offering free tickets the club think that they are making up for the fact that you will have such a poor view. It doesn’t really though. I’d rather pay for my ticket and see the game clearly, than pay nothing and see only half a pitch.

Anyone who has attended Stamford Bridge as a wheelchair user over the last 9 years will know that the view is poor, however on the raised section, at least you may be able to see the far end.Arsenal have approx 5 regular travellers (all wheelchair users) to away games on an away scheme. For some reason for this game Arsenal asked for extra tickets and took from the top, issuing them to the regulars. Unfortunately the tickets did not say restricted view. Had they, it would have been an unfair description as you’ll see from the picture. At least Chelsea don’t have the cheek to charge for that view but this, I feel gives them an excuse or way out. The tickets shouldn’t be sold.

I’d implore you all to ask your own club not to request these tickets, or make sure you get tickets for the raised area. If you do get these seats, and you are a wheelchair user then you’ll see next to nothing. And no, nothing was done to try to get the fans to sit down…quite frankly if they thought about it properly, fans should be able to stand all day long and wheelchair users still be able to see.

Video of disabled fans area at Stamford Bridge.

Another slightly different view from my pitchside location at the game versus Hull City

This was my view from a pitchside location at the game versus Hull City

The Disabled fans area in the lower West Stand, where I was seated was close to the MH stand. The atmosphere and view were very good. I would like to thank CFC and the stewards for being extremely helpful at all times.

Free tickets were available for disabled fans and their helpers. However, only three sets of tickets for ambulant disabled fans were provided and we were not lucky enough to get any of those. Consequently we paid full price for both disabled supporters and helpers.

We had tickets for the lower tier but when we arrived we were informed that we all had been moved to the upper tier and only those lucky enough to have benefited from the free tickets were allowed to be seated in the lower tier!

My party included two people who were ambulant but with limited mobility and who found stairs very difficult to manage. We therefore requested to use the lift. The steward informed us that there were no lifts and suggested that we could manage the stairs if we took it slowly and did one step at a time! I think that the steward realised his mistake by the tone of my response as I quoted DDA and suggested that we be allocated seats in the lower tier! He did at this point escort us to the lift!!

Once we reached the upper tier we were advised that we could sit anywhere, sat in the front row and had a fantastic view of the pitch.

Why have Chelsea decided to start giving away disabled supporters 5 wheelchair spaces only, free of charge? Is it because the view is so appalling no one in their right mind would pay the normal £50 charge? I’d much rather pay and have decent facilities that be treated like a charity case.

Situated in away fans disabled area which was fine until something exciting happened on the pitch, everyone stood and i could see very little, lables on seats reminding people about disabled folk being behind them but paid no attention.

Stewards were no help and a very frustrating afternoon ensued.

Chelsea is not alone in its treatment of disabled fans when the area just needs a little thought and some concrete to raise the level of the area

I attended this match through Corporate Hospitality via a link through my job.

Corporate Hospitality was excellent for disabled spectators. Access to Conference Rooms via wide doors and big lifts. Tables were good height to sit at and were not cramped. Staff were extremely friendly and accommodates needs. Disabled toilets were accessible and good, but not close to tables for dinner (although this could be arranged).

Unlike able bodied fans we had to be escorted down to the Disabled Enclosure, so no corporate/box seat for wheelchair guests. Again escort was by security staff and was very safe and efficient.

Sat in West Lower (if I recall) and view is pretty poor, sight lines blocked by advertising and stewards head. However felt part of crowd and atmosphere was good.

Unable to return to corporate area for half time due to not being able to leave, but 15 minutes is not much.

Post match facilities very good and was asked if needed a taxi. Chelsea overall stadium is good due to hotels so lots of set down points, toilets and eating options.

I went to Chelsea about 5/6 years ago and the view was awful but I think my recent experience is about the worse match I’ve been to with regards to disabled supporters view and abuse from fellow supporters.

Despite being told from that the view had improved and it was elevated, they only had 5 spaces elevated, which were basically first come first served. So even though I went with the official travel because I did not get into the ground early enough I did not get a elevated view. Not that the view was much better up there, but the abuse made it worse!

They had to get an announcement to get OUR fans to sit down. There was one away fan who continued to argue with the steward and “why should he sit down”; my answer is “cos you’ve paid for a seat mate like I’ve paid to watch the match!”

In all fairness though, my point is the issue would have never arose if Chelsea had got there thinking brains into action and done something about creating a better viewing area for disabled supporters which would mean ALL fans would be able to enjoy the game!!

view from away wheelchair area when supporters stand

view when away supporters in front of wheelchair are remain seated

view from pitchside locations