Manchester United

As I am disabled I’m not happy the way they treat disabled drivers, they block off all the disabled parking places at the front of the stadium and we have to walk to our seats I don’t think it’s fair that they block these parking places just for the players to get in

I would like to say well done to Manchester United for their much improved facilities for disabled away supporters
We are now seated at the back of the away fans with a really good view of the pitch, good facilities catering and toilet wise and welcoming and friendly staff

Access is via a lift in the home entrance section but was fine

It bugs me to say it but can’t fault it at all

Well done for listening to supporters it is so much better being with our own fans than being mixed with unpredictable reactions

Or first time at old Trafford and what an experience it was. Right from the very helpful staff to the unbelievably good seating area for wheelchairs and mobility scooters alike.
Sitting up high meant we were under cover from the monsoon that Manchester had to offer us. They had a big lift to the platform, lovely big toilets, and nice and warm too, they even had a food kiosk selling the basics like chocolate, crisps , pies and drinks, both hot and cold, we had two pies, two bags of crisps and two drinks for £16…which considering only the disabled section could use it , I didn’t think the prices were bad..plus we didn’t have to queue.
Sitting just above the able bodies Charlton fans meant we actually felt part of the crowd , and not ticked away hidden from sight or with the home fans, as a lot of other clubs do… I can’t praise this section or the staff highly enough, it was a wonderful eye opener of both the Man utd experience and the quality of the viewing platform.. 10+/10 …

This was my first time sitting in the new section for away disabled supporters at Old Trafford and overall I was very impressed. I had a much better experience when compared to previous years, purely based on the fact that I was able to sit amongst my fellow visiting Chelsea supporters. There was plenty of space for wheelchairs of all sizes in the lift, toilet and on the concourse, whilst the new platform for wheelchairs offered a great view of the pitch. My view of the match was very slightly obscured on the odd occasion due to a couple of able bodied supporters standing up in front, although I was able to see around them so this wasn’t too much of an issue. I have had far worse views of the pitch at other stadiums in the past, so my first experience of the new disabled section at Old Trafford was an extremely positive one in my opinion.

The view, facilities and staff were amazing. The catering left a little be desired and felt half finished, a lack of choice, lack of stock and inexperienced staff felt like it was an aftwr thought.

Had a great view of the game in the new disabled away end. The staff were excellent and the toilets and refreshments were great. Thank you.

The facilities have been greatly improved since my last visit in 2010. Being visually impaired myself with other away disabled supporters were put at the back of the stand. This seems to be common practice but not good if as most disabled are unable to stand for lengthy periods. The fans notified a Home steward of the fact it was out of range for me even with my equipment and no reception commentary.
Unexpectedly the Steward returned and we were invited to go into the lower stand infront of the Leeds fans. I was also given a commentary headset. We accessed through the Home fans from whom there were no derogatory comments infact they were assisting myself my Guide Dog and my carer to get through the crowd.
The result wasn’t great but i have to commend the matchday stewards.

Manchester United – Update

In June 2021, we launched a new ticketing system with a new provider. While we appreciate that it can take some time to get used to a new system it offers significant improvements to the service which we will be able to provide to our supporters. We provided updates on this project via the Fans’ Forum in April 2021, the minutes of that meeting were published on the club website and can be viewed here via manutd.com/fansforum). Once the new system was launched, we communicated with all our supporters to update them on next steps including logging in and basic navigation.

We are delighted that the new ticketing system provides more functionality for all supporters. A recent development that we’ve never be able to facilitate in the past is that disabled supporters are now able to purchase and select seats online, something we are incredibly proud of. To help fans navigate the site, we have provided guides on MUDSA’s Facebook page, sent email communications and provided steps on our website at manutd.com/accessibility and manutd.com/sthub.

Our Contact Centre has been incredibly busy in the lead up to the new season, but we remain committed to providing support for all of our supporters whenever they need it. We have recently introduced a new text message service, and our dedicated email address accessibility@manutd.co.uk remains in place.

We understand that change can be unsettling, but we are always here to support our disabled supporters. A number of significant steps to improve our service for disabled supporters include:
• In the last few weeks for the first time ever, we can now sell accessible tickets directly online
• We have introduced digital ticketing, so supporters use a QR code either on their phone or by printing their ticket, this has been very well received
• We have increased our accessible provision, which will provide 278 wheelchair positions and 278 amenity seats
• We have also introduced a text message service via 0161 850 3969

We are thankful for all feedback on the new system and will continue to look for ways to improve it, and the service we provide to our fans, in the weeks and months ahead.

Manchester United have implemented a new ticketing system with no prior warning for its disabled supporters and the system is horrendous to navigate.

There should have been notice of this change and help and advice provided.

The dedicated phoneline for accessible needs has since been removed and its extremely difficult to get to speak to anyone regarding your issues.

Manchester United only allocated Aston Villa 12 pairs of ambulant disabled tickets in the away end. Any others beside the first 12 pairs need to be paid at standard prices, including PAs. Which is ridiculous.

If you have a fear of heights which I did not realise until I attended my first match make sure to advise at time of booking otherwise you won’t be able to change your seats.I had to endure the match sitting two rows from the top. I won’t make the same mistake again. We did ask for lower seats but none were available which is understandable with being one of the bigger games. Maybe Man Utd should have some seats spare or at least standing room for this as i am sure that more supporters are affected by fear of heights. Even watching the game does not calm the fear.

The location has changed a little and you’re with your own fans more, I would prefer to be in the away concourse but the lounge shared with the home fans is fine, whilst in the lounge and talking to several home fans I was surprised to be told they paid a fraction of my full away fan price of £30, I always thought away fans shouldn’t have to pay more than the similar positioned home fans, I contacted manutd and the reply said not all manu fans get it cheaper!

A good view for the whole match and it was great that we welcomed in MUDSA Lounge. The lounge had excellent facilities including two disabled toilets and two TV screens. Staff were friendly. The only criticism is that whilst watching the match if you are an away supporter you not with your own fans as there are three levels for disabled supporters and we we’re on the 2nd level with Manchester United supporters in front and behind us as well as next to us. I wonder what the reason is why away supporters cannot be on the highest level just in front of the rest of the away fans?

From Access Advisr

Sometimes these reviews can be difficult, and none more so than this. Often an accessibility review will be equally about what doesn’t exist, as well as what is in place.

It’ll be a matter of record that on the day I visited Manchester United the game didnt actually take place. However, by the time the game was abandoned, I’d already experienced quite a lot.

In the days running up to the match I’d received a helpful leaflet from MUFC saying that free parking was available right by the ground. All we did was give our name to the stewards and we were helpfully directed to the car park. Easy. Unlike a previous review we were actually near to the disabled fans entrance.

We didn’t do much looking around outside but instead went into the ground. There is one access for all wheelchair users at Old Trafford, and again all stewards had been really helpful. The issue here, as with many other grounds, is that the three of us had to be separated. I knew United had recently opened a family area and emailed the club, but was told that it was for home fans only, which is fair enough.

Inside the ground, the area seemed to be reserved for disabled fans and companions. Really pleasing to see 8 accessible loos. Also in this part of the ground was the Ability Suite. Here disabled fans could buy food/drink and generally relax. It was well used and people seemed very comfortable and relaxed in there.

Once I’d had some refreshment we made our way into the ground. Our seat allocation was easy to find and stewards were, as ever, always willing to help. The view was quite impressive.

But… there were things that concerned me and have done for quite a while. Manchester United is a big club and has invested heavily in it’s stadium. Sadly the stand that we were in is the only one that has spaces for wheelchairs. United fall well below the recommended spaces for wheelchair users. I think that’s really disappointing.

I also felt that whilst an exclusive area for disabled fans suits some, it isn’t for everyone. I don’t know whether other areas around the ground were accessible.

If I was marking Manchester United on existing facilities alone then I think it would be 4.5 out of 5. In the time we were there it did feel a little isolated from other fans, so my rating is 3 out of 5. Staff helpfulness top marks!

I think there is so much potential for Manchester United to really show other clubs how inclusiveness can be taken further.

And next season maybe I’ll see the game!

The view and parking Man U is very good. They also have an eating area for disabled fans.

First time to Old Trafford and I was excited after watching football round the country for over 65 years, my first game at Wembley in 1948,and having visited most grounds old and new I did not know what to expect. The intial reception was brilliant and I was escorted into the ground and had pointed out to me all the facilities that were availble before being shown to my seating area. The view was first class, the atmosphere and build up to the game got you truly in the moodand despite losing Reading equipped themselves well

The stewarding was first class very polite and helpful, I had a wonderful time and would I go again’YES’ if I am able.

I rate the ground for disabled the best I have been to and on par to the new Wembley.

As I had a free day on this Tuesday I decided to accompany my friend and PA (Paul) to his teams match in Manchester in the League Cup.

We left from my home in Lightwater, Surrey at 2.30 in the afternoon and drove via the motorways to Manchester in about 4 hours. We used the M6 Toll road which got us through the notorious motorway clog-up north of Birmingham. This Toll Road [as with many bridges, congestion zones and other roads] can be accessed free of charge if you receive the higher rate of DLA, as I do. However, a 3 year pass costs £15 and so if you are unlikely to use it more than once a year then applying for an exemption is not cost effective. We duly paid our £4.60 by credit card (no frantic searching for cash very convenient).

Paul arranged the visit through QPR and was sent a letter from the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association stating that Man Utd had recently introduced a card entry system for wheelchair users. He had to give my name and Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) to QPR who in turn passed that information on to Manchester United but no tickets were necessary. 24 disabled places were allocated to QPR fans. This included a personal assistant (PA) for each disabled person. Of this allocation of 24, 18 were for wheelchair users, 3 for visually impaired (these 21 all free and for pa too) and an additional 3 for ambulatory disabled (at a reduced price with pa free).

So we traveled to the match without a ticket (something that never sits comfortably with me). On approaching the stadium complex the car-park attendants pointed us towards the disabled car-parking zone and even when inside the complex, no-one checked the VRN against any list. However, I guess the blue disabled parking badge and the power wheelchair in the back of the car was evidence enough that I did indeed have a disability.

Once inside the stadium complex we made our way round the other side of the stadium (Is it just me that always manages to be at the wrong side of the ground?) and to the clearly marked disabled entrance (B3 in the South-East corner). We gave our names to the stewards on the entrance to the stadium and they assured us when we asked that food was available inside. We were keen to get out of the cold wind and rain and hungry for a burger. We made our way along the corridor to a large concourse area in the stadium. This had several disabled toilets adjoining it and the entrance to the ability suite as well as a through door to another part of the stadium and a medical room.

I used one of the toilets which was rather small to maneuver my power-chair in but had all the rails in the right place. We then went into the ability suite to buy some food. The ability suite is a large room with a refreshment bar and tables. It is exclusively for the use of disabled people and their PA’s. However the Ability Suite did not have the food I wanted. They had pies but no burgers.

We asked the head steward if we were allowed out to buy a burger and he replied ‘of course’. So we went out into the wind and rain again and bought a burger each. When we tried to get in the stadium again we were stopped by the gate steward ‘I cant let you back in I�m afraid’ he said. This steward only backed down when a more senior steward used his common sense and allowed us through.

Through the concourse there were two ramps which in turn lead to two large viewing platforms at two different levels. I was quite pleased as we were allocated a space on the higher platform accessed by the right hand ramp. The view was very good with great sightlines to the pitch. At half time we were allowed to go back to the concourse area where we could gain some much needed shelter from the weather.

The exit from our space after the game was simple and queue free and we were back to our car and out the car-park in 20 minutes. There was a slight queue on the roads immediately outside the stadium but this was nothing compared to the hold-up as soon as we joined the M6 at Junction 19. We queued nose to tail for 90 minutes covering no more than 4 miles; and all because someone, somewhere had made the decision to paint a bridge across the motorway occupying 2 of the 3 lanes. This caused one of the biggest bottlenecks I have ever seen and the frustration was multiplied as all drivers knew full well they had a 3 hour drive once through it to get back to London. We eventually arrived home at 4 am.In conclusion the facilities at Man Utd for the disabled are very good. However, there are two things worth pointing out. Firstly: the disabled supporters of both clubs are all at the same end of the ground. Luckily in this case, the away fans were at this same end but if the ground is used as a neutral venue (Liverpool v Chelsea FA Cup semi-final 2006) and your own supporters are allocated the other end it does make for a very uncomfortable time being right amongst the opposing fans. Secondly, and maybe it’s related: because all the disabled are together you don’t have the opportunity to mix with non-disabled people. Disabled people are thus being denied the opportunity to integrate. This is a problem society is beginning to sort out in this country but disappointingly Man Utd are not following the social model of disability.

I have been to Old Trafford several times as an England Fan and following Arsenal as an away fan in a FA Cup match during the 2007/2008 season.

Positives Good Parking nearby Level Access Plenty of Accessible Toilets

Negatives Away fans sit with home fans and during intense game this is very intimidating Accessible Lounge – My worst nightmare of a day out. Disabled people don’t want to be provided a unique space for us to be hidden away in. Would prefer a setup like the Emirates where I can access the same refreshment facilities as others. Accessibility Lounge is also cramped with too many wheelchairs and is again mixed home and away fans. I wonder when MUFC will open an area for other minorities to be cooped up in? Lots of toilets, but very small, dirty and with severe lack of hot water! Car Park – Holds you in for one hour after match leaving you to get stuck in traffic. One entrance for disabled. One section for disabled, unlike Wembley or Emirates where disabled people are dispersed amongst other fans for a more “real” and “equal” experience.

I have been to Old Trafford several times with my disabled husband and found the situation as with other fans’ comments. However for the match coming up on Saturday I wanted to also bring (for a birthday treat for one of them) my two teenage granddaughters who have special needs, one of whom cannot walk too well but generally does not use a wheelchair. I had hoped to obtain seats with the ambulant disabled and let one sit with my husband next to his wheelchair and sit with the other myself. Unfortunately I had mistakely assumed that it would not be difficult to get these seats, and sadly I have had to disappoint my girls. So if you are ambulant disabled be warned you have little chance of getting a seat. As for being with the home fans – we are used to this as it happens at many stadiums, but it would be nice to be able to be accommodated with our own fans and to go in the concourse with them.

I was a carer for an ambulant ticket.

We were allowed through the side door which was easier than going through the turnstiles.

Walked up the stairs which was difficult with the uneven steps to the concourse.

We had to walk up steep uneven steps which I found difficult to walk up. No help from the stewards who could see we were struggling. Even coming down the stairs we were offered no help.

We were positioned next to the stairs and the stewards who were exiting fans roughly kept banging into us.

Treated abysmally by both the police and stewards outside of the ground for our FA cup game; I was unable to keep my crutch. No help given by anyone in the ground. Total lack of respect by this “huge” club.