Sutton United

Wow, Sutton’s first review on LPF, what a responsibility!

I am a powerchair user and my husband is a white cane user. This was our first visit to the VBS Community Stadium as away fans, travelling in an accessible coach that is part of our Club’s official away travel.

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
We were informed prior to going that although there are a few Blue Badge parking spaces to reserve at the Stadium, there was no provision for away coaches to drop off at the stadium. Rather we were dropped off at the entrance to a park and the entrance to the away end is in the park. The narrowness of the pavement where we were dropped off caused some congestion particularly as members of the public were also trying to use the pavement including dogs, bikes and prams and the coach had to reverse a couple of yards to find sufficient room to operate the side extending wheelchair lift. It is a wide flat-surfaced smooth path through the park (with a separate cycle lane). I was surprised on a dry, sunny day how quickly we came across the away entrance on the left but for anyone who found walking difficult, particularly in bad weather/the dark it would be a fair distance. There are two turnstiles with a large gate to the left that was opened for us to give access to what is referred to as the away fans zone. A hard surfaced flat area with the back of the away stand running along the right-hand side of it with two entrances to the stand.

Seating Area
About 80% of the away stand is standing terrace with a small seated area furthest away from where you enter. The front row of this seating I would think would either be flat access or one step up. The seating area for away wheelchair users was not in the away end but neither did it feel as if it was in a home stand! It is adjacent to the away stand nearest to the entrance to the stand. It consists of two equal sized bus shelter type structures set back a few feet from the pitch perimeter fence (see photo). In the first one two St John’s First Aiders sat and we sat in the second one. Uninterrupted views of the pitch and all the away fans, it felt very safe. When one of our fans asked to be allowed to come and speak to us this was allowed (at some grounds such a request has been refused.) Home fans were further over to the right but some distance away and beyond a locked gate. I fear that if it was raining, you would get wet. There were folding chairs for carers/companions to position as needed. The information our Club received was that there was only space for 3 away wheelchair users. As a result of this I am aware that parents with a son who is a wheelchair user stayed away, when in fact, having now visited the ground, I am sure we could have made room for them.

Audio Commentary for VI Fans
Not available.

U’s Memories Project
This Scheme provides wristbands to home and away fans that are at risk of getting disorientated in the stadium, so that they can be recognised and helped by the stewards. If this is something that you would be interested in using, you should email info@suttonunited.net at least 48 hours before KO.

Accessible Toilets
It seemed poor toilet facilities were the biggest complaint among all the away fans, certainly the women’s toilets. Immediately I got into the ground I was warned by fellow fans the accessible toilet was not adequate and told that a complaint had already been made by a carer that the toilet was not big enough for their needs to accompany the disabled person they were with. The one accessible loo in the away end is a portaloo on your right as you enter. I tried it but my 6-wheel, mid-wheel drive chair would not fit in it. That said, the stewards immediately told me not to worry as they would accompany me to the accessible toilet in the home end, which they did both before KO and during the second half at a time agreed with me at half time, which all felt very safe. This alternative accessible toilet was located almost directly across the pitch to where we watched the game, so involved us going to the far end of the away stand and through two sections of the home stands, the ground was uneven in parts but not a problem for my chair. Uniquely to get to the toilet we had to go down the players’ tunnel and it was then on the right with a radar key. It was clean with hand soap and paper towels. Good sized basin and water flow but I could not find any warm water. Alarm cord was broken off at ceiling level. Odd layout, with sloping roof and what look like an old tiled fireplace with lots of pipework in it but enough room to turn my chair, so functional. Unlike the reports I got from various people that the ladies at the away end left a lot to be desired.

Catering
Drinks and food were being sold from a mobile van on the far left of the away fans zone. Coffee in a firm cup (but poor fitting lid) was good value at £2. Heard no other reports.

Stewards
All the stewards we met were exceptionally friendly and helpful, loved the song and dance routine of the one that met me at the entrance and the female who did the loo runs with us was outstanding. She accompanied my husband at half time to get a coffee (allowing him to queue jump!) and after agreeing a time to escort me to the loo in the second half as I wished to, turned up exactly on time. Much appreciated.

Leaving the Stadium
The fact that we could exit in a straight line from our bus shelter without having to weave our way back through the away end made leaving very straightforward. We quickly and easily got back to the park entrance where we were told our buses would collect us as they had dropped us off. There was a very slight delay whilst they arrived but nothing problematic and police were present (recognising us from our last away match 4 days earlier)!

Overall
In fairness to Sutton United, their website states they recognise that their ground still needs some work to bring it up to the standards of others in the football league and it certainly did feel like a non-league ground but we have encountered far worse at much more established grounds, so we have no complaints and would happily go again although we recognise that what we found might make it more challenging for some disabled people. Time now for Sutton’s home disabled fans to review their ground!