Sheffield Wednesday

The South Stand was very packed. Took 10 minutes to get into Hillsborough Stadium with my brother Toby and my dad and Virginia. The Stewards was very good

I am a powerchair user and my husband is a white cane user. We attended as away fans, travelling to the game in an accessible minibus that is part of our Club’s official away travel. We were shocked to discover our two previous LPF Reviews of Hillsborough were both 10 years ago. (I am sure we have been in the mean time!) Interestingly, reading those reviews now it seems little has changed in that decade at Hillsborough for away fans, apart from our response to the provisions.

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
No problems. Our mini-bus was allowed to drop us off outside the away end on Leppings Lane. The wheelchair users entrance is in the far right corner. Through the gate you need to go to the right -hand side of the stand and keep close to the stand to avoid steps. Before going into the ground we went round to see the Hillsborough Memorial which is not far away. You need to get on the pavement at the far right of the away end (it is a bit of an odd angle but can be done in a wheelchair) follow the pavement round to the left, past a pub and the memorial is on your left. There is a circular ramp around the memorial so that wheelchair users can get right up to the memorial, although the edges of this ramp were not sufficiently clear for my husband to easily negotiate it (black edging bricks).

Seating Provisions for Disabled Away Fans
Away wheelchair fans are accommodated at the far end of a platform at the back of the lower tier of the West (away) Stand behind the away goal. It seems that any unsold spaces on this platform go to home fans. So when we went there were 3 of us away fans with a great many more home fans filling the rest of the platform (even though it was the away end!) This is the only the second ground we have known in the 80 we have visited, where home fans are located in the away stand! When we asked about this we were told it is because they have so many disabled fans and it has never produced any problems. Well we would not describe it as the best experience for away wheelchair fans, to be totally outnumbered by home fans in the away end, that you have to walk past to go to the toilet or to get refreshments, when at the same time you can’t see or speak to any of your fellow away fans as they are all located in the upper tier. Imagine what would be said if 3 able bodied away fans were singled out for such an experience. Prior to the match I had expressed concerns about our ambulant disabled fans being expected to get to the upper tier given other people’s reviews and was told that if anyone with tickets for the upper tier was going to struggle with the steps, they could ask to be seated in the lower tier (albeit from reading previous reviews it seems this has now always happened). I was also told that the 4 rows in front of the wheelchair platform are netted off and not used to ensure that the view of wheelchair users is not obstructed, yet photos here, show that this has certainly not always been so. With no one in the lower tier our view was unobstructed, albeit we did go right up to the barrier at the front of the wheelchair boxes and as previously, my husband (as my companion) stood through the match. It was notably that all of the home fans remained at the back of the platform, not sure why.

Refreshments
Non alcoholic cold/hot drinks and snacks available from a serving hatch that you pass on the way into the ground at the back of the stand. We did not use them as it is quite a long way to carry a drink and we had our own.

Accessible Toilets
In the back of the stand just to the right of where we entered as a wheelchair user. Well signed. Three cubicles leading off a room with 2 chairs but unlike a decade ago, the radiator was cold but it was not a freezing cold day, the toilets were clean and there was warm water. These toilets are accessible to fans in both the lower and upper tier who require them. I observed there was a notice on the outside door into them saying “these toilets are not for stewards” which of course presumes that none of the stewards requires an accessible toilet!

Audio Described Headset Match Commentary
My husband’s verdict was “very biased and not the most helpful”. Wednesday’s website says if you require a headset just ask a steward for one. The first steward we asked as we entered admitted they knew nothing about them but immediately got on their radio to enquire. We were told one would be brought to us and it was, in good time before the start of the match. We were able to hand it to the steward nearest to us at the end of the game.

Stewards
The most friendly helpful stewards we have encountered in any of the 80 grounds we have visited in the past 15 years or so. First time I have ever had a hug off a steward at the end of the game! We were warmly welcomed by the steward for the away platform who checked had we been before and if we needed anything. We were then visited by the Deputy Safety Officer who offered to take our photos for us and then offered to take my husband down to pitch level to take his photo. Expertly guiding him, my husband was absolutely delighted to be afforded this opportunity. We later heard that this Safety Officer had been making the same offer to disabled children in the upper tier. We were also visited before the game and in the second half by the Disabled Liaison Officer to check that we were ok and had everything we needed. She was lovely, clearly knew about wheelchair accessibility at football grounds and made us feel that her concern for us to enjoy our visit was genuine. We did hear from some able-bodied fans that they had not experienced the same, albeit we only experienced friendly and very helpful club staff.

Leaving the Stadium
Was a bit shocked to find that almost all the home wheelchair/scooter users sat at the away end had left 5 minutes before the end even though Sheffield were comfortably winning! Getting out was straightforward and Sheffield allow the official transport to pick up at the end of the game at the away end although, buses/coaches have to be there prior to the road closing at 4.30 pm. Despite a large and boisterous crowd (they had just gone “top of the league”) we felt very safe at all times and when someone more nervous than us expressed concern, they were reassured that we would be kept safe.

Would we go again
Without hesitation. The only downside is that away wheelchair/scooter users are completely separated from all the other away fans when the lower tier is not used. Ambulant disabled fans who cannot cope with the steps to the upper tier should ask to be seated in the lower tier, even if their ticket is for the upper tier.

Sheffield Wednesday have responded to the below comments from Kirsty and Emma, and have taken action to improve their processes and communications.

Before hand booked disabled parking. Sheffield Wednesday very helpful.
Day of match – Discovered mine and my wife’s tickets were totally separate parts of the stand.
I need her support as I have MD and walk with a stick. The stewards were extremely helpful and one (Steve no 5) ensured we were taken to seats at the front of the stand together .
After the game we could leave via separate steps which also made things much easier.
First rate!

Great stewards. Poor seating not everyone 5ft tall. Need to be mindful of less able but not disabled. Exit poor on stairs

My grandad had a stroke 2 years ago and can hardly walk he has got a stick with him, when we booked tickets to go we was not made aware they was upper tier..
The steps was so steep and there was so many there was no other way to get in the ground other then the steps . When we got in we had to get up more steps to get to the seats, my grandad could not see the game because everyone was stood up in front of him and he can not stand that long. On the way out the space is so small people was pushing my grandad. He had to go down the stairs again to get out the ground he had to hurry up because everyone wanted to get out he nearly fell down the stairs. Why was there no ramp or lifted ?

As a carer for an ambulant disabled visiting supporter, where only the upper tier was opened for our fans. The fan I was accompanying would never have made it up all the steps to get to our allocated seats. We were lucky that the stewards on duty recognised that he wouldn’t have been able to manage, so they kindly seated us in the wheelchair disabled seating. We have found at many away games as an ambulant disabled fan, we can’t purchase tickets in any area that is specifically ambulant disabled friendly, unless you are in a wheelchair or scooter. We feel that maybe the lower tier could have been reserved for ambulant disabled as I saw a few of our ambulant disabled fans, with walking aids struggling up and down the stairs before and after the game.

View when lower tier is occupied.

The league cup draw gave us a chance to go to one of the most traditional, and sadly infamous grounds in England. I had been to Hillsborough only once before, in 1993, so with over 20 years in between this effectively meant a new ground to visit.

Hillsborough is an older ground, that SWFC have don’t their best to fit out to modern standards. Four seperate stands are a throw back to yesterday; the away fans including the away disabled supporters are in the Carling West stand (formerly known as the Leppings Lane end). I understand that for league games only the upper tier is sold with the wheelchairs in the lower tier; this may make it devoid of atmosphere for league games. Arsenal sold out both tiers, so SWFC wisely blocked out three rows in front of the wheelchair platform so improve sight lines. There is a huge supporting pillar in your way depending on where you sit. Overall I’d say I had a great view of the pitch bar the near corner when people stood. If the rows are not blocked out, you won’t see a thing.

You enter at the away fans turnstiles; the dedicated gate is clearly marked. Straight away there are the disabled toilets (not the cleanest at all) and a snack bar (no alcohol served in the Lower tier). Stewards were friendly and showed us to our space. My companion seats were set about 4 feet behind me, & the seats were filthy so she stood for the whole game.

I used one of the allocated disabled bays in the Hillsborough Park car park. This had to be rebooked with SWFC & cost £5. We managed a quick getaway by turning right onto A61 toward the city centre.

Good view for disabled away supporters apart from the large post holding the stadium up, blocking my view now and again. Good accessible toilets behind the stand. The majority of the Hull fans were seated in the top tier so it was dissapointing there was no access to the concourse to mix with my own supporters. Also, i was not able to purchase a beer before the game as no alcohol was being served in the lower tier. This wasagain disappointing as there is a refreshments koisk for disabled fans but only sold a small selection of food. Part of my matchday experience is to have a beer and socialise with fellow supporters like everyone else.

Game at Hillsborough 28.2.2015.

Same old story . 2 flights of stairs to the upper tier . Askled a steward if there was any other way up to the stand.

“No” was the reply . Took an age to struggle up the steps to the upper tier. 5th. row back , luckily a family were in front, 2 adults and 2 children and they sat all game , so viewing the game , for once was not an issue. There again

you have to rely on folk not standing in front of you which is the norm.

Hope something comes of the recent government survey for disabled fans attending grounds.

We were sited in the Upper West Stand . Seats were ok , 3 rows back , first two rows were not in use so the problem

of fans standing in front of you was not an issue. Fans standing in front of you is a major problem at away grounds

which clubs really should address. Surely a few seats for ambulant disabled fans at the front would solve this

problem but no one appears to confront it . Steps up to the upper tier were a struggle .

I paid £5.00 for a disabled parking ticket when I went to the area I was told by two personnelto go, I was turned away at the gate sent down the road. Therefore a 72 year old had to push his disabled son 1 mile to get to their place to watch the match. Having paid my money like we do at every other away ground we have not been treated so uncaring ever before. I suggest Wednesday get their act together when dealing with disabled people, I would like my parking fee returned.

being in the dissabled area loks like we will not be seeing the match waste of money all round,poeple standing up in from of wheel chair users

Little to add to the review of our Hillsborough visit last season. Although we took over a thousand fans to an FA Cup game, which was good going for us, they were all accommodated in the upper stand so we have never had the problem of fans standing in front of us, obscuring our view. Still the best, warmest accessible loos we have found!

Another example of a ground where poor design means that wheelchair and ambulant disabled supporters (away section) cannot see when supporters in front stand.

During the first half, this is what I saw.

Also, any ambulant disabled or carers/personal assistants have to sit behind the wheelchairs and/or stand up to see anything.

We visited Hillsborough twice during 2011 as away fans and have only just found this web site, hence the lateness of these comments, but wanted to give credit to Wednesday for the toilet provision. I have visited in excess of 30 grounds in the past 2 years and would say Wednesday are the only ones who have got the toilet provision right. There is a spacious indoor area in addition to the toilet cubicles with seats where you can get wrapped up for the match, take your coat off to go to the loo, do all you need to and this area and the actual toilet cubicles (3 I think) are all heated and warm, with muscles that spasm in the cold so appreciate. Toilets aside we had an excellent experience on both visits. Stewards were friendly, knowledgeable and well organised. Allowed our club’s mini-bus to load/unload us wheelchair users right in front of our entrance. On a very wet day this was much appreciated. Stewards came on board the bus on both occasions to welcome us, tell us all the info and answer any questions we had. They even told us where the memorial is and how to get to it. Easy to get to in a wheelchair (no roads to cross) and a very well designed and integrated ramp means wheelchairs can get right up to the memorial. (Cafe en route which looked accessible.) Both home and away wheelchair users (as it seemed to me) are accommodated at the Leppings Lane end. On our visits we were about 1 of 4 away wheelchair users and as we were there early we filled up from the far end and the home fans followed on. It is a wide platform underneath the away fans (you can’t see them). There is more seating in front but when we were there, they were empty so no problem with seeing over anyone. You needed to go past the home wheelchair users to go to the loo and tea bar but this did not present any problems when we were there. The carer seating is behind the wheelchair spaces but when we were there our carers stood at the side of the wheelchairs and stewards allowed this. My husband who is partially sighted requested (as he always does) a headset commentary. This was brought to him on both occasions by the disabled liaison officer, who came and introduced herself to us all on each visit, checking we were ok and asking if she could do anything for us. She was bubbly and knowledgeable about the issues facing disabled fans. We would not hesitate to return to Hillsborough.