Bradford City

I am a powerchair user and my husband is a white cane user. We visited as away fans travelling in our Club’s official away travel coach. This was we think our third visit to Valley Parade. As our last two away trips had been to grounds that did not have wheelchair spaces at the away end, we arrived so looking forward to finally being able to sit at the away end, we soon learnt that things can change for the worse!

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
On arrival at the ground we were informed by the first stewards we met that we would be sat with the home fans as the away end was closed to save money and there were no wheelchair spaces in the area of the ground that they were now locating away fans. We refused to be the only two away fans sat with a large passionate home crowd. We are sure that Bradford fans are very nice but as we said when they mix all the crowd, we will happily sit with home fans but until then we would rather choose to sit outside the ground for the match in protest. It is one thing for a Club to not have wheelchair spaces at the away end but if it does and chooses to move the away fans to a different part of the ground, then we believe this should only be done when it can relocate the away wheelchair fans with the away fans, otherwise it is simply promoting exclusion not inclusion. Due to the stance we took we were allowed to sit at the away end (see section on Club staff below for details of how this happened) but not before it resulted in me dissolving into tears. This was our first away match after the sudden death of our fellow wheelchair fan, who we had travelled to almost every away game with for the past 14 years, on this of all nights we did not need this hassle and should not in any case have to have these arguments when we arrive at grounds. Clubs would not dream of putting two non-disabled away fans in with home fans yet somehow it is considered ok to expect this of away wheelchair fans?!

Seating Area
We were informed that the away end at Valley Parade is now only opened when the away club are bringing 2,000+ fans. When this happens away wheelchair fans are located pitch- side behind the goal where there is also flat access seating although there is a steep slope down to this (unchanged from our previous LPF review and as per our photo). As we refused to sit in the home stand, we cannot comment on where away wheelchair users are located in the ground when the away end is closed but it would appear to be in the stand that you enter from Midland Road (where the away fans are located in the furthest left blocks).

Audio Described Match Commentary
Only radios available no audio described commentary.

Accessible Toilet
As with the seating provision we are not able to comment on the accessible toilets in the home stand and feel it unfair to comment on the one we used in what was essentially a “closed” stand. Suffice it to say the cleanliness of the accessible toilet was one of the concerns if we were sat in the closed away stand but it was checked before we were allowed to use it (for which we were grateful) and it was clean and usable. Same toilet, same location, as in our previous review.

Catering
We were given two complimentary £2.50 vouchers given the upset we had been caused which we exchanged for two coffees that the steward allocated to look after us obtained for us from the adjacent stand.

Club Staff
The two stewards who approached us outside the ground were amongst the most defensive, clueless, ill-informed stewards we have had the displeasure of speaking to in over 80 grounds that we have visited. Our usual response from stewards when discussing the issue of being away fans sat at the home end is that they readily admit that they would hate it if it was required of them. These two were of the view, “well that’s where you are sitting, take it or leave it”. When we said it was discrimination, their response was “no it’s not, we treat all away wheelchair fans the same”!! The best thing they did was to call the DLO. If you were ever looking for the importance of Club’s having good DLOs this must be it. Despite only being in post for two weeks, Louise took charge of the situation immediately she arrived and it was equally quickly obvious that she “got it”. She put in place the arrangements necessary for us to sit at the away end, just as we had previously and which we had expected we would this time. Louise offered to guide my husband into the stadium and clearly knew how to guide. In reality we were the only away fans in the away end but this did not worry us. We had a good view, Louise popped back twice during the match to check we were ok and introduced us to the steward who would be able to help us with anything we needed during the game and the person who she had arranged to collect us at the end and escort us back to our bus. Without Louise’s timely intervention, we have no doubt we would have been left outside the ground for the game. Thank you Louise, you saved the day for us.

Leaving the Stadium
The member of staff allocated to collect us at the end of the day did so and we got away from the ground without any further difficulties.

Overall
Apart from this review, I have sent a complaint to the EFL and to LPF in respect of Bradford’s decision to close the away end (which does have provision for away wheelchair users) for it seems most games and relocate away wheelchair fans to sit with home fans. This to us is regression, not progress in relation to inclusion and equality which should not be happening. In view of our experiences, it would seem the Club’s info on this page needs to be updated to show the changes we encountered. Had we known about these changes before we visited, distress could have been avoided.

[Response from the club to the review below]:

“We have a ‘First Time Visitors Guide’ available here (https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/supporters/First-Time-Visitors/) which is also sent to all away clubs to publish along with an Away Supporters Guide. Included in the letter I personally send with away tickets are details for disabled supporters to utilise the EA gate which has access to the lift from the lower concourse to the upper concourse and is manned by a steward all the time.”

[Review from Peter Blay – May 2023]:

“On getting to ground there was no details on getting from Forster Square Station to,the away end. I walked alon the road to Valley Parade. Then there was a very steep hill to ground then it was a hike to get to away entrance .

The pat down was OK but I was directed to the turnstile. After my ticket was scaned due having a crutch and bag with my medical supplies I got stuck for a while. There was nomsteward in site so a fan helped me. Then I found despite the stand named THE BRADFORD LIFTS STAND. I was faced by a loads of stairs. A fan helped me up the stairs that seem to take for ever. Once on the crowded concourse I took a while to get my breath back.

Then I looked for disabled toilet on finding none I asked a steward he showed me the gents. I said I want a disabled toilet. Then he went away.

Then a very kind Supervisor took me through a locked gate to the far end of the home fan area. He showed me the disabled toilet. When I came out he took me to the disabled seats and I met up with my friend who had a disability scooter. At sat next to him for the match.

The home fans were very friendly. At half time some fans shook our hands and respect because we stood up in memory of the Bradford fire casualties. After the match we thank the supervisor and were taken down in a lift. I went up the second road up to the main road. I weaved left and right to help with the steep hill. I found when I got to the Forster Square station i had walked about 9,00 steps. and found lift down tomthe booking hall

It would be better on their Web site they details about getting to and from station and was there a route with a less steep walk. except for the entrance it was an enjoyable day.”

My disabled daughter and I travelled on disabled supporters bus to Bradford city ground, on arrival were told away disabled supporters entrance was near the top of a fairly steep hill, luckily a steward helped push wheelchair, once inside it slopes down to the seating area. While waiting and during game supporters queued in front of us for refreshments. Took my daughter to disabled toilet which was back up the slope and down another one and once inside found the lock wasn’t working so a steward stood guard outside. Once the game was over no stewards to help us out of the ground and on descending with some difficulty we’re told by the police to take a detour along another much longer road to get to the bus. From this experience I think the management need to look at the away disabled facilities urgently in the light of all this, you certainly can’t call it a level field!! Your comments would be appreciated, many thanks

Block B toilets need extending as there are only 8 urinals and 2 sit down toilets and as the season comes to an end it would make sense to extend and modernise

I was taken up in the lift which I was very greatfull for, I couldn’t find the disabled toilets found it hard in a single cubicle. Fortunately I was seated in row D however the row below me was a very tight fit for a disabled supporter to get in to, second half we had 15 support officers on the pitch side which I felt was a tad over doing it. I couldn’t get on to the pitch if I wanted to or other fans, we had 13 police officers at the goal end of the pitch which once again I felt a bit over the top, I didn’t see any of this in the home end!! I felt we where put in the category of hooligans I think we handled ourselves remarkable restrained as supporters the foot was awful cold and tasteless not sure if I would vist again.

This was our second visit in successive seasons to the Coral Windows Stadium. On both occasions we travelled in a wheelchair accessible mini-bus that is part of our Club’s official away travel. As I failed to write a review after my last visit I am going to base this on both visits, taking account of the reviews already published.

Access to the Ground

Route from the motorway via the ring road is not the most straightforward. The stadium is set high up from the ring road on the side of a mountain. The stadium appears to be in a residential area with a retail park with large supermarket below it on the ring road and smaller businesses on the road behind it.

On our first visit the stewards directed us to parking up the hill from the stadium. It turned out these stewards were agency ones who had wrongly directed us. Due to the stadium being on the side of a very steep hill it is not the easiest place for people in manual wheelchairs or those with walking difficulties to visit but if you are a visiting fan, ensuring you are parked at the bottom of the stadium in my opinion is the best option. The one advantage of us being parked at the top of the hill is that we were easily able to visit the memorial to the Bradford Fire Tragedy which we all found very moving. Parking at the bottom of the hill means that to get to the away fans entrance you have to get quarter way up the hill on a narrow road (forget the narrow pavements) where vehicle access is restricted but not prevented. To add to the fun there are also at least two sets of speed ramps to negotiate. It was ok in my powerchair but it is a steep hill.

Facilities in the Ground for Away Wheelchair Fans

Viewing Areas – Flat access entry to the ground for visiting fans is through a high metal gate half way along the left hand side of the ground as you look up at the stadium. Immediately through the gate there is a very very steep, relatively short hill down to pitch level (which also serves as the players’ tunnel!). At pitch level you turn sharp right and right again to enter the front of the away stand. I notice that earlier reviews have spoken of wheels getting damaged in gullies. On my two visits these have had boards across so have not been a problem, but the hill down to the pitch is even steeper than the one outside the ground and to safely get down it in my powerchair I repeatedly criss-crossed it. On our two visits the rest of the away fans have been in the upper tier of the away stand so we have had all the lower tier to ourselves and have not had any problems with stewards standing or walking in front of us. At his choice my husband stood for the match which he was allowed to do and we had an excellent view.

Refreshments – the kiosk for the away stand is on the lower level of the stand in the opposite corner to where we entered. We did not purchase anything so cannot comment.

Accessible Toilets – The one at the away end is as you immediately you enter the ground. Previous reviews have advised paying it a visit before you go down to pitch level and I would second that. That said, I found it ok to get into. Yes there is a drop beyond it but I found sufficient space to turn easily. Large toilet cublicle (left hand transfer) which was clean. Hand soap and electric hand drier but I could not get any warm water.

Headset Commentaries for Visually Impaired Fans – Bradford’s web site states that the Club does not have headset commentaries but can sometimes arrange for visually impaired fans to sit in the press box to listen to radio commentaries. We didn’t investigate this. We got good 3G coverage but the Player live commentary has about a minute time delay so not much good for helping you follow the ball in the ground which is what helps my husband.

Attitude of Club Officials – To Bradford’s credit, unlike the agency stewards we met on our first visit who knew nothing, the Club’s own stewards are exceptionally helpful. They willingly guided us up the hill from where we parked to where we entered the ground and helped us at the end. As visiting wheelchair fans have to purchase their tickets from Bradford, we asked the stewards if they could collect our tickets for us given the hill and my visually impaired husband was struggling in the dark and they willingly did so.

After the Match

We did have the hill down to our mini-bus to negotiate, with, it seemed all the home fans walking up the hill but they were helpful in getting out of our way. Once in the mini-bus there was some queuing to leave but no worse than at many grounds.

Would We Go Again

As long as our mini-bus is allowed to park at the bottom of the stadium as on our second visit, it is a good ground for us to visit but I can see that it would be very difficult for fans in manual wheelchairs or with mobility issues that find steep hills difficult. I would agree with the Club’s assessment that they have done their best to provide wheelchair access at the away end given the geography of the ground. I for one am pleased that I can sit at the away end.

I too was at the sheffield united match. As a wheelchair supporter my two sons had to push me up the hill. My daughter then took over as the boys were in the east stand. She was my carer for the afternoon I needed to go to the toilet straight away but had difficulty getting through the gate to the toilet. Once through the gate you have to go down a slope to the toilet but if you can’t stop there is a big step which is frightening cause there isn’t much room.

To get to our seats we had to go through a small gate, I have a wider than normal wheelchair. I had problems getting through the gate hitting a gutter straight away and got stuck. Many of the other wheelchair users were have problems with the gutter as there wasn’t much room to manoeuvre around parked up wheelchairs. Even one wheelchair the tyre came off due to the gutter.

On exit of the ground after been on the phone to my sons telling me they couldn’t come up cause the police had stopped them to take me back down. My daughter couldn’t do it so I asked a steward. He then passed it on to another one then he passed it on to another. I felt I was passed from pillar to post has nobody wanted to take responsibility of me.

When a steward took me up to the gate he crashed me into it due to the camber of the exit. It was one of the worst experiences I’ve had at a football ground. The SUD’s secretary was right about the stewards, they stood up most of the time, which hampered our views from the wheelchair seating positions.

With regard to the comments by Sheffield United fans, I would like to bring to your attention the following points:

• For many years, Bradford City has been criticised for not having an area for away supporters with disabilities in the same area of the away fans. This has been remedied this year with the introduction of a brand new facility which provides spaces for 36 x wheelchairs at the front of the South Stand and a brand new accessible toilet.

• The Coral Windows Stadium (also known as Valley Parade) is situated on the side of steep valley from whichever way it is approached, any supporter is faced with a steep slope up or down to the stadium. In the case of supporters in wheelchairs, stewards are instructed to provide assistance as required and I know this happened on Saturday, even down to some of the Police officers on duty helping to push wheelchairs up Holywell Ash Lane. The location of the stadium also provides issues inside with slopes and inclines.

• The comments regarding the ladies toilets I will look into – but this is certainly not the case with the brand new accessible toilets

• Stewards did not stand up for the whole match. During the first half there were very few stewards at the front of the stand. During the game we had to put more stewards in front as Sheffield United stood persistently throughout the game, even then the stewards sat on stools, or crouched or almost laid on the inside of advertising frames. Stewards only stood when there was a movement of standing supporters towards the front of the stand, a coin had been thrown at the referee and a flare had been set off (the level of stewarding at this time allowed the flare to be dealt with efficiently and for the culprit to be arrested before he let off a smoke-bomb).

• Access to the refreshment area for supporters in wheelchairs is difficult; however stewards are asked to help and that is why our policy recommends that supporters in wheelchairs have a companion (who gain free access to the stadium)

In summary, we now have extensive facilities for away supporters in their own section; a brand new toilet that is accessible to supporters in wheelchairs, approaches to the stadium will always be steep as we are situated on a valley side, we recommend supporters in wheelchairs have a companion and stewards will help where that is not possible, stewards only stand at the front of stands where the behaviour of fans is significantly bad or a pitch incursion is considered likely.

I accept that these supporters have not been to Bradford for some time and therefore would not appreciate the context or efforts already made; it is nevertheless disappointing that such views should be aired without the Club being offered a chance to respond.

By far the WORST ground we have been to. After getting off our coach we tried to find the entrance for away disabled fans, the stewards had no idea as they were agency stewards from Leeds. When we found it it was a the top of a very very steep hill and pushing wheelchairs up needed two persons per chair and two to hold the chair back on way down after match.

On entry we found we had to go down a steep slope to access our w/c spaces. The toilet is up this same slope so go before you go to your seats if you need to. The stewards inside the ground were helpful with pushing up to the toilet. NO emergency cord in disabled toilet.

The ladies loos were disgustingly dirty with only cold water and no towels or drier and one was blocked when we arrived and we were the first ladies in at 1.30pm so I cannot imagine what they were like at the end of the match.

The refreshment counter is up 5 steps and then down 5 more. Not under cover and everyone got wet when they put the sprinklers on. Stewards stand up in front the whole match.