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Men’s Football

Colchester United

League 2
JobServe Community Stadium
Capacity: 10,105
JobServe Community Stadium
United Way
Colchester
Essex
CO4 5UP

Disabled supporters contact

Club or stadium contact
 for disabled fans

Chris Saward
Disability Liaison Officer

01206 755130 

General ticket office contact

Chris Saward
Ticket Office Manager / DLO

01206 755130 

Accessible ticket contact

Chris Saward
Disability Liaison Officer

01206 755130 

Accessibility information

Number of wheelchair user spaces

Actual:
40
The JobServe Community Stadium boasts elevated wheelchair gantries in all four stands, each with designated seats for an accompanying carer (Personal Assistant (PA)) who are admitted without charge, lift access, accessible toilets, a designated steward for assistance and all offering plenty of room for manoeuvrability.

Due to the gantry's raised positioning, fans are both 'high and dry' with an excellent view of the game at all times. Standing fans below will not impede your view.

There are 40 wheelchair and PA spaces around the stadium and away fans have their own elevated wheelchair gantry housed in the away end with the away fans.

Access to the West Stand wheelchair gantries is through the main reception where the lift to the first level can be found. Lifts in the other three stands are located underneath the concourses.

Number of accessible toilets

Actual:
13
All five wheelchair gantries have designated toilets with specific facilities for disabled fans. General toilets are located under the concourses in all the stands.

Colchester United are conscious that visitors with certain additional needs may require changing facilities suitable for children and adults during the course of the matchday.

There is a room available in the West Stand for such circumstances and would advise booking tickets in this part of the stadium if there is a possibility they may be required.

Our designated member of staff can be contacted by our stewarding team to then take your family to this safe and warm environment.

Audio commentary

Should fans wish to be provided with live commentary of the match through one of our commentary headsets, they are advised to contact the Disabled Liaison Officer Chris Saward on chris.saward@colchesterunited.net or 01206 755130 in advance.

Accessible services + information

Assistance dogs

Colchester United at present have no facilities for assistance dogs at present although we do permit them into the ground. Colchester United do suggest however, that fans wishing to bring an assistance dog book their ticket in advance so they can be as accommodating as possible.

Hearing loops

Ticket Office windows have hearing loops fitted.

Club shop

There are currently no low level serving counters in the club shop.

Club hospitality

Colchester United do have spaces in hospitality and VIP areas for away wheelchair users.

Braille and large print provision

Club do not currently provide any disabled supporters information i.e. booklet with a map of accessible facilities in accessible formats (large print, easy read).

Food concession stands

Catering facilities, which all have low level counters, are located on the ground floor under the concourse in all four stands.

Although it must be noted that these facilities do get extremely busy at half time.

For disabled supporters without a personal assistant, there will usually be a designated steward who will available to assist.

Total number of parking spaces

There are 41 accessible car parking spaces available for all supporters (both home and away) located right outside of the stadium.

These regularly sell out so disabled fans are advised to book these in advance on the low call rate ticket hotline 01206 755161 where possible.

Should these sell out, which they invariably do, parking stewards will always do their best on the day to accommodate fans with accessibility needs at the front of our main car park which is now fully tarmacced and in close proximity to the stadium.

Parking costs £6 per car, apart from Zone A, which costs £7 per space.

The club also allow fans to drop off/pick up outside the stadium if necessary to allow ease of access.

Travel options

This page was reviewed and updated by Level Playing Field staff and the club on 14 July 2022.

How we set targets

We use accepted industry standards to set the club targets. The reference documents include: Accessible Stadia Guide 2003 and Accessible Stadia Supplementary Guidance 2015; Building Regulations Approved Document M, Access to and Use of Buildings; BS 8300, Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people; Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide); Access for All, UEFA and CAFE Good Practice Guide to Creating an Accessible Stadium and Matchday Experience

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Read comments from other fans

About this page

This information is provided by Colchester United. Level Playing Field (LPF) cannot be held responsible if the service and provision differs from what is stated here.

If you have any queries please contact us.

Updated July 2022

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Fan comments

Comments reflect the views of the fans themselves and do not necessarily reflect the views of LPF.

  • Gary Bird, who attended Season tickets
    2 years ago

    My 82 year old disabled dad has been a season ticket holder with my elderly mum at Colchester for years, this season he needs my sister ( his carer) to help as my mum is unable to now.
    We enquired about season tickets and was told that the disabled section you can only have the disabled fan and one other.
    We said that dad can walk a very short way so seats with easy access would be fine for all 3 of them
    We were then told the club cannot accommodate the 3 of them and can’t have season tickets
    We find this to be out of order for a club with 10,000 capacity who gets around 3,000 for a home game.
    With the information the club gave us my dad is now unable to go to the one thing he enjoys.
    We have sent emails to the club but heard nothing back.
    I feel strongly to take this further and wonder if you can help us in anyway

    Many thanks

    Gary Bird

  • J&J, who attended 17/02/15
    9 years ago

    Our 6th visit as away fans in successive seasons to the Weston Homes Stadium. As I have already written two reviews, this is just an update to my earlier ones.

    Facilities Outside the Ground

    I noticed there is a large (I think newly built) MacDonald’s at the petrol station on Junction 28 of the A12 where the stadium is. It looked like it was a drive through with seating upstairs. I presume you could park there whilst eating as it is a bit of a walk from the stadium including crossing the A12 slip road but I did notice there was a dropped kerb!

    The burger van just off the roundabout on the road to the stadium which I mentioned in my last review was still there trading but closed at the end of an evening game. As we entered the stadium at 6 pm for an evening match, on the right opposite the car park was a disco tent and two food vans with tables and chairs in front. One selling the usual food and drinks and the other was selling noodles. We had a portion of (very hot non-greasy) chips, a beef burger and a hot chocolate, all excellent and for less than £7 in total. Can’t say if these were open at the end.

    Tickets

    Unlike last year we were able to purchase our wheelchair user and carer tickets from our own Club.

    Headset Commentary for Visually Impaired Fans

    Usual helpful commentary provided by the wonderful volunteers from Colchester Hospital Radio who have a real can-do attitude in ensuring my husband can have a commentary and sit with the away fans.

    Accessible Toilets

    Remain very accessible and spotlessly clean with the warm water that is all too often elusive!

    Stewards

    Always friendly and helpful.

    Overall

    Disabled football fans in Colchester enjoy the best of facilities. If you have never been to an away game and would like to try one, Colchester would be the place I would recommend you try. The facilities it provides for disabled fans (home and away) are as they should be. We would never have any hesitation in visiting.

  • J&J, who attended 26/11/13
    10 years ago

    This was our 5th visit as away fans in successive seasons to the Weston Homes Stadium. I have already written a very full review (April ’13). To avoid repetition I will restrict this one to just any additional bits to that earlier review.

    Purchasing Match Tickets

    Away wheelchair fans need to purchase their tickets from Colchester FC. The earlier you buy them prior to the match the cheaper they are. They retain your details on their system once you have purchased tickets from them so you don’t have to give them all each time. To find the ticket collection point, as you enter the ground go to the far end of the stadium building, turn right and it is on the left.

    Facilities in the Ground for Away Wheelchair Fans

    Viewing Areas

    I got good 3G coverage in the East Stand. Large scoreboard and video screen is just to the right of you if you are sat in the wheelchair area of the East stand.

    Refreshments

    I noticed that the refreshment van I had seen on previous visits was still open. It is on the right just as you exit the last roundabout before the ground, a relatively short, flat walk out of the stadium’s car park. I think it was also open as we left (a Tuesday night game) but can’t now be sure! We arrived before the ground was open but I noted that, as with previous visits, the refreshment area/bar (and loos) in the South Stand were open for both home and away fans (on your right as you enter the car park). From the concession within the East Stand I had a cheeseburger (only burgers available) and my husband had a steak pie. They were hot and average prices. I thought my burger was not the best but equally by no means the worst, whilst my husband was very pleased with his pie.

    Accessible Toilets

    The one on the East Stand wheelchair area is right hand transfer. Don’t know about the others.

    Headset Commentaries for Visually Impaired Fans

    Colchester FC have just invested in new wireless headsets. We emailed the Club before hand to request use of one, then on the day collected and returned it to the main Reception desk which is half way along the outside of the West side of the stadium. My husband reports that these were exceptionally comfortable to wear. You do need to turn them on using the small button on the side (a red light comes on). The commentary provided by volunteers from Colchester Hospital Radio, he also said, was of a very high standard and very helpful in enabling him to follow the game.

    Will We go Again?

    Without doubt. As others have said, amongst the best grounds to visit as a wheelchair user. All credit to Colchester FC.

  • Sheffield United Disabled Supporters Club (SUDS), who attended Colchester v SUFC (FA Cup)
    10 years ago

    By far the best ground in this division. Although Shrewsbury’s is very good too. Very helpful stewards, exceptionally clean toilet within the disabled viewing area also one as you access the lift. Exceptionally good view from the disabled area as it is elevated and under cover from the rain, however it gets cold on a windy day as you are high up. Looking forward to going again this season in the League.

  • Darren Cash, who attended Colchester vs Wolves 05/10/2013
    10 years ago

    Fully endorse the previous comments.

    The ground is very easy to find being on the outskirts of the town.

    The set up is very similar to Shresbury Town and the grounds do have a similarity.

    I prebooked a parking space for £6 but if the main car park is full they do have an overflow carpark.

    As I found at Shrewsbury, there are no food outlets on the main car park at Colchester so eat before you get there or take your chances inside the ground.

    The viewing platforms are at the back of the stand and has the benefit of being well above the seating area, therefore even if someone stands up in the seats they cannot block your view (unless they are at least 12 feet tall).

    Toilets are on the viewing platform itself.

    All in all, well done Colchester .

  • Just J, who attended 16/04/13
    10 years ago

    My first visit as an away wheelchair fan to Colchester’s new Weston Homes Stadium was in September 2008, just after it opened and I have visited each season since. I would fully endorse the favourably comments made by previous reviewers and not repeat here what is already well documented.

    If travelling by road, the stadium is very easily accessed from the A12 (Jct 28), which is effectively a dedicated junction for the stadium. There is a large flat car park on two sides of the stadium. I have never had to arrange parking as I have always used my club’s official away travel but my understanding is that as away disabled fans you can ring and pre-book a parking space. Apart from one burger van as you approach the car park, the stadium is literally in the middle of nowhere with no near-by facilities as far as I am aware. I have been told there are plans for a hotel and shops at the site but these are currently shelved due to finances.

    Each of the 4 stands has viewing platforms for wheelchair users, either in the middle of them or at the back of them. This ensures you are under cover, have an excellent view and are seated amongst your own fans. On my first visit the away fans were in the South stand but after the first season I understand they moved the away fans to the North stand (nearest the A14), albeit if the away crowd is small, the away fans are seated at the north end of the East stand. If this happens the nearest route to the away wheelchair fans entrance is to turn down the right hand side of the stadium nearest the stadium’s entrance and the wheelchair fans entrance is ¾ down that side. (The ticket office is on the opposite side of the stadium). If the South stand is closed, away and home fans are mixed in the wheelchair area of the East stand. This resulted in me last season being sat next to a Colchester fan who was verbally abusive about my team (although not personally abusive to me). When I was telling the steward on this visit about this, they informed me that if this does happen to inform them immediately and they will deal with it. There is a steward on the wheelchair platform for the whole time.

    Onmy most recent visit 5 away wheelchair fans and their companions filled up the wheelchair platform in the East stand from the far (south) end (furthest away from the lift) so that we were well positioned at the side and back of the away fans. When Colchester’s wheelchair fans began to arrive the only spaces left for them were the other side of the toilet furthest away from their fans. We all said if we were those Colchester fans (some of whom the steward told me were season ticket holders for the East Stand) we would feel somewhat marginalised stuck out beyond all the away fans. The lifts for the wheelchair stands, only take one chair and companion so you may need to be patient at the end. We did ask the steward if we could take priority over the home fans in using the lift to get out as we had a fair trip ahead of us, which we were grateful to the Colchester fans for agreeing to. If you are in the East stand, as we were unable to see the pitch prior to the game due to the setting sun directly in our eyes (April evening), you might want to consider the need for a baseball cap if the sun is likely to be around when you are.

    5 stars to Colchester for the accessible loo. Easily accessible throughout and sparkling clean. Hot water, hand wash, bins, space etc all provided. 5 stars also for the helpful, friendly stewards that we have always encountered at Colchester on each of our visits. I noticed there was an Evac Chair on the wall in the accessible loo and the steward told me they had all been trained in its use.

    I cannot finish this review without mention of the volunteers from Colchester Hospital Radio and in particular Ronnie. When we first visited in 2008 we asked if they did a headset commentary for visually impaired away fans. We were told that Colchester Hospital Radio volunteers did do one but to pick up the signal you needed to sit in a particular part of the West stand with the Colchester fans. Once we explained that my visually impaired husband needed to assist me in the away wheelchair area, rather than saying sorry as other clubs have, Ronnie set about coming up with a way to provide the commentary for my husband. He explained as it had never been tried he wasn’t sure it would work but to his and my husband’s great pleasure, it did and he has happily made it work for each of our visits, becoming someone who we look forward to catching up with on each visit, albeit my husband was not available for this visit. 5 stars plus for Ronnie and his fellow volunteers.

    We are just hoping Colchester don’t get relegated as it is one of the best stadiums we visit and would miss our annual trip to them.

    Perhaps worth noting Alex Hales who is given as the Club’s contact for disabled fans has now left and Matt Hudson is now the contact.

  • Gary Deards, who attended Colchester v Sheff Wed 14/04/2012
    11 years ago

    View from the South Stand wheelchair viewing plaform

  • Gary Deards, who attended Colchester v Sheff Wed 14/04/2012
    11 years ago

    I visited the stadium for the first time and the facilities/staff were excellent.

    Accessible car parking is available but I arrived via the Shuttle Bus service from the train station which was excellent both before and after the game (if you let the club know you are travelling this way, the buses can pick you up at the station rather than in the official area over the road).

    Level access to stands with lifts to wheelchair viewing platforms. The viewing platforms are elevated for all wheelchair users accessed via a lift and offer excellent views (there was a potential sightline issue if supporters in front of the platforms stood up but my area was OK).

    Accessible toilet on platform and at bottom of lift.

    Refreshment areas are on the concourse level so you will need PA or steward assistance if you want drinks etc on the platform.

  • Lyn Robinson, who attended Colchester vs Sheffield Wednesday 16/08/2010
    13 years ago

    Friendly and helpful stewards. Lift to large area with spaces for wheelchairs and seats for carers alongside. A disabled toilet is situated in the same area.

    The view is perfect, due to the fact the area is about 3-4 ft above the standing fans. It is also undercover so no problem if it rains.