It’s 2022, but some disabled people are having a poorer matchday experience.
Jack is a 10-year-old boy who is a huge Bolton Wanderers fan and season ticket holder, so we had to filter our away game at Plymouth and our home game into our recent family holiday. We are on a mission to support our club and attend as many away matches as possible, getting Jack to see as many away stadiums as possible. Jack gets so excited every Saturday morning and wakes up cheering very loud and clapping (his way of communicating for football).
As much joy as football brings Jack and us as a family, it also brings great difficulties. We have to plan our journey a lot more if travelling further afield to find a service station with a Changing Places. We also have to carry a waterproof blanket on the back of Jack’s wheelchair for when there is no Changing Places facility available. Out of all the service stations in England, there are currently only 26 with a Changing Places. Once we have arrived at the ground, should Jack need changing during the match, this is where the greatest difficulty lies.
Here comes the harsh reality of being a disabled supporter attending a football match. Last season we attended 40 games (league and Cup). Out of the 40 matches, we had access to Changing Places ONCE! Thank You, MK Dons. Now, had Jack not had a disability, he would have no problems accessing a toilet at every match attended.
Yet, because he has a disability, this access is taken away from him. I have to pack a waterproof blanket when I attend football because Jack will have to lie on the TOILET FLOOR! Sadly, I know jack is not the only one who has to do this. Alternative option: staying in a soiled pad? Where is the dignity in this? Is this really where equality is up to in 2022? As a parent, it is heart-breaking, backbreaking, and completely unsafe. It is also highly unhygienic and completely degrading for the person who is having to lie on the floor.
When you attend a football stadium, you see it as a given that there is going to be a toilet for you to use; there will most likely even be a hook on the back of the door, so you don’t have to put your coat or bag on the floor. However, I have to lie my son on the floor. Other disabled fans have to lie on the floor! But not your bag or coat? This is why disabled people sometimes scoff at sporting clubs when they talk about ‘equality’ and ‘inclusion’. In 2022 some disabled people have poorer match day experience than a coat!
We felt so much joy and relief when we knew there was a Changing Place at Stadium MK when we visited the stadium following Bolton Wanders. It takes that worry from your mind. My only issue was that it was a toilet/place to change. I would like to have seen it as a place that is a Changing Place, just like a non-disabled toilet is a toilet.
I hope reading this has given you a short glimpse into the match day experience of Jack and that you, as supporters groups who are the voice of disabled supporters, will speak to your football club regarding installing a Changing Places as your football club.
We are actively campaigning for Changing Places alongside Level Playing Field and many other disabled supporters. Still, the sad fact is, without more Changing Places being installed, in the not-too-distant future, we would have to reconsider renewing our season tickets and attending away matches due to the difficulties, challenges and undignified situations we face.