Cheltenham Town

I am a powerchair user and my husband is a white cane user. We visited the Completely Suzuki Stadium as away fans, travelling in an accessible mini-bus that is part of our Club’s official away travel. The last LPF review I wrote for Cheltenham is saying it was 10 years ago, I am sure we have been since then but not for a while. That said, it seems little has changed in the past 10 years, so this review is just an update on my last one!

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
We were welcomed to the car park, which is always a bonus as it means that the arrangements our Box Office staff have made with the away club have been forwarded to the right people on the day (something that doesn’t always happen). Had I paid more attention to our 10 year-old review, I would have known that there is entry for away wheelchair fans straight from the car park. I forgot this and headed to the away entrance which we had driven past to get to the car park. In fairness I did check that I was heading right with the stewards on the car park entrance and they confirmed I was. They obviously did not know what they were talking about, for as I discovered, there is no wheelchair access at the away fans entrance. Instead, we were then escorted to what was for us now the third side of the stadium, even further away from where we had parked to wait whilst various gates and doors were unlocked to let us into the Stadium, to then go back on the inside to the away end. As one of the people we were with was finding the distance involved difficult, I checked we could leave by going the opposite (short) way back to the car park at the end.

Seating Area
No change from 10 years ago. We sat in front of the block nearest the turnstyles, just to the left of the goal. We could therefore say hello to people as they entered which we welcomed.

Audio Commentary for VI Fans
Cheltenham’s website advises the use of their local radio station without any awareness that a radio commentary is not audio description.

Accessible Toilet
As per last time. Exceptionally clean. 10 years ago I thought it was a bit small, perhaps my standards have reduced in the meantime, as I thought it on this visit a good size!

Catering
Seemed a little strange. Hut on the car park selling fish and chips but I had no reports of this. Main complaint from our fans seemed to be that there was no alcohol being sold in the stadium and the refreshment hut was only selling burgers and sausage rolls, that were being heated on the other side of the ground and walked round on trays by one person the whole afternoon. Alcohol and food was being sold to away fans at the small community centre next to the away entrance (you could also pay to park there). I have read it was accessible but I have no experience. Those who visited the Centre, spoke well of it.

Stewards
Steward 111, the female supervisor (I think her name was Marie) was exceptional and drew praise from a number of our fans as well as myself. I observed her, despite being busy, repeatedly checking with each of our wheelchair fans during the match that they were ok. When a severely disabled young fan who was non verbal arrived after the start of the match, I observed her very effectively communicating with him, calming him down and directing him to seating in a closed part of the ground (on the opposite side of the away entrance) where he would have the space and peace that would help him enjoy his afternoon. When I told her how impressed I had been watching her, she was very matter-of-fact, that this was just her role but in my book, compared with some stewarding I have seen, she was exceptionally good. This was confirmed at the end of the game when she took the time to help one of our disabled fans put his coat on and they later commented, that she knew exactly how to do this. As we always say it can be the small things that make a qualitative difference. Interestingly since the match I have heard able-bodied fans during their review of the game, praise Marie (if we have her name correct) for being so helpful to them, even helping one of them with their tech problems when taking a photo.

Leaving the Stadium
As advised, we stayed put at the end of the game for a few minutes to let all the away fans leave past us and then we were easily able to leave by turning left, away from the away end exit, going through into the adjacent home stand via the refreshment area and through a large gate straight out onto the car park, a lot shorter and easier route than the one we had to get in. Get-away from the car park was then straightforward.

Overall
We always enjoy our trips to Cheltenham and would happily go again.

On Saturday I travel to Cheltenham from Plymouth with a group of Plymouth Argyle disabled supporters this was my first ever away match as you can imagine i was very excited. I was a little bit nervous though as there was a pitch inspection planned for 12:30 lucklly the game went ahead. When we arrived atWhaddon Road all the stewards where very kind and showed us to our seats. Me and my Carer were sat in theHazlewood Stand my first impression were ‘ we might get hit by the ball here’ as we were sat right behind the goal, luckily we didn’t. Overall i really enjoyed my first ever Away match it was a great experience and something that will live long in the memory!

Cheltenham ground was easy to find with parking on site or very close at the community centre. drinks and sandwiches, pasties, pies and sausage rolls available at the community centre. All very civilised and friendly.

There was no head set commentary but the radio with national radio was clear.

Stewards were helpful and considerate both entering and exiting after the game.

This was our second visit. On each occasion we arrived in our club’s official transport wheelchair accessible mini-bus. Last season we were immediately allowed to park at the Club but then “walked” round to the other side of the stadium by the disability lision steward who had greeted us, only to be told we were at the wrong entrance and needed to return from whence we had come. This time we would not have been parked at the ground other than we were able to say what happened last time and were then allowed to. (This initial confusion seems to resonate with the experience of the other reviewer.)

Once parked up on this visit all the stewards were helpful and eager to offer any assistance required. The entrance for away wheelchair users is through the gate adjacent to the ticket office. On both occasions (like the other reviewer) we have been seated at pitch level in front of our own fans, just to the far side of the goal. This gives a good view of the park and you feel very close to the action. The gap between you and the hoardings is sufficiently wide for two chairs to pass. There were 4 of us in wheelchairs with PAs and still room for more. Officials walking past during the match was minimal which is appreciated.

Only down side for my sight impaired husband was no audio commentary to assist him follow the game. The other reviewer has said you do need to watch out for stray balls, if you avoid them coming over, they can hit the back of the stand and get you from behind on the bounce back!

Both our visits have been in warm weather so can’t comment on what it is is like when it rains.

Accessible toilet is in the middle of the adjacent home stand which you get to by going down via the back of the stand. Journey is fine in a power chair but there is a steep short slope between the two stands. Toilet was clean, not over large for powerchair turning.

Refreshments are served from a porta-cabin at the opposite end which seemed to me inaccessible but I did see a steward assisting a fellow wheelchair user.

Leaving the ground involves going against the flow of the away fans leaving but at least you get to say goodbye to people. The ground is tucked away at the back of a housing estate. There is a general store and chippy nearby (not visited) and a Sainsbury on the nearby main road. Bar at the ground welcomes away fans and is accessible. Overall we have had two enjoyable visits to Cheltenham and would not hesitate returning.

The info on the site is not strictly accurate now – I also rang the Club to check and they confirmed that visiting wheelchair supporters would be positioned in the Main Stand. However, when I got to the ground and attempted to enter the Main Stand the stewards told me that it was possible to sit behind the goal with the rest of the away support. They have taken 2 or 3 seats out in the front row to allow wheelchair users to sit in those spaces (beware of flying footballs – you are very close to the pitch)

Facilities wise I didn’t use the toilet but this is housed in the adjacent (home) stand. Refreshments are available from a small kiosk between the away stand and the Main Stand.