
Chesterfield
Capacity: 10,000
Wittington Moor
Chesterfield
S41 8NZ
Disabled supporters contact
Club or stadium contact for disabled fans
Peter Whiteley
Disability Liaison Officer
General ticket office contact
Karen Wood
Ticket Office Manager
Accessible ticket contact
Karen Wood
Ticket Office Manager
Accessibility information
Number of wheelchair user spaces
96
Number of easy access and amenity seats
248
Number of accessible toilets
Home
11 (includes common areas)
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Away
1
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Audio commentary
Sensory room
Accessible services + information
Assistance dogs
Hearing loops
Club shop
Club hospitality
Accessible lounge
Food concession stands
Total number of parking spaces
20 although all 400 spaces easily accessible.
20
Travel options
Level Playing Field staff reviewed and updated this page with information provided by the club, on 7 August 2024.
How we set targets
About this page
This information is provided by Chesterfield. 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 2025
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Fan comments
Comments reflect the views of the fans themselves and do not necessarily reflect the views of LPF.
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Mark Phillips,3 weeks ago
Club Response Summary – Chesterfield FC
“The club response was shared directly with the supporter. They acknowledged the concerns raised and thanked them for their feedback. The club confirmed that away wheelchair users are seated together in line with regulations, with away supporters located at pitch level. Staff and volunteers will be reminded to avoid obstructing views. They also acknowledged the issues with wet seating, accessible toilets, and the Changing Places facility, and confirmed they will review procedures to improve the matchday experience for disabled fans.” -
J &J, who attended 13/09/254 weeks ago
I am a powerchair user and my husband is a white cane user. This was at least our third visit as away fans to what is now the SMH Stadium. We travelled as usual on an accessible coach that is our Club’s official away travel. We have previously reviewed our visits to Chesterfield for LPF but as the most recent was in 2014, here goes with a new one. Warning reading this review will reasonably leave you thinking I am a “right moaner”. I really don’t go to footy to moan but I will always call out situations I think are unacceptable and sadly I encountered a lot at Chesterfield that I considered unacceptable.
Arrival and Entry to the Ground
The stadium is in the middle of lots of out of town stores (with a massive independent mobility store across the road from the main entrance as well as a superstore next to the stadium.) The entrance to the away end is via a road on the left edge of the front of the stadium. Our coach deposited us immediately in front of the away entrance.Seating Area
We entered the back of the stand through large gates and were directed straight ahead and then left. This was the biggest change from our earlier visits. The away fans have been moved to one end of the long sides of the pitch. In so doing, this has denied away wheelchair fans a raised platform. The consequence of being seated at pitch level (see photo) was that our view of the match was interrupted throughout by the constant passage of club officials walking in front of us. Sometimes this can be a lot at the beginning of a match but then tail off. 15 minutes into the match with no evidence that this was happening, I began to count. In the next 15 minutes a club official walked past us 20 times, more than one a minute! When I tried to catch their attention to speak to them, they didn’t hear me despite me being heard by the people further along from me. When I spoke to the Head Steward at the end of the game he undertook to report it but he appeared pretty unconcerned by my complaint. I presume they installed the raised platforms (now exclusively used by home fans) because this problem of constant disruption to the view of wheelchair fans was recognised. By now denying raised seating to away wheelchair fans and subjecting us to this constant disruption yet having us pay full price for our tickets, I thought was discrimination. Would non disabled fans tolerate this amount of disruption to their view of the match?
Added to this, on a number of occasions we had to move club officials from standing in our sight lines (they did move when requested). The exception was the supervisor who we asked if they could move the ball retriever 6ft to one side so they were not sat directly in my eye line, he replied saying he did not think he could do anything and did nothing! When we made the same request to the Head Steward a little later, he did move the Ball Retriever, not difficult is it! Whilst having people constantly walking in front of us was annoying for me and the rest sat in the away wheelchair fans’ spaces, for my husband it was a total disaster as he follows the ball through a 1 cm diameter lens and each time his vision is disrupted it takes him ages to find the ball again. I am sure if that had been me, I would have just given up but he patiently persevered without once complaining. He probably thought I was complaining enough for both of us! The one advantage he did have was his binoculars shielded his eyes from the sun that was streaming into our faces. Prior to the match, the away wheelchair fans had gratefully been given team sheets, when I noticed a fellow wheelchair fan used this as a much-needed sun visor, I followed his example and found it a great help. Away wheelchair fans, remember to take sun visors. I know we can’t blame the Club for the sun but with so much conspiring against us seeing the match, I left feeling I hadn’t watched the game.As if all this was not bad enough, we arrived in the ground, just after a cloud burst and found the seats in our area very wet. We asked if they could be dried and my husband was initially told he could sit on the row behind where he would be unable to assist me so refused, a second request to a supervisor resulted in someone arriving with one small piece of tissue! Thankfully we got no more rain but if it had rained those in the away wheelchair spaces and those occupying the step-free seats at pitch level would have got very wet whilst the non-disabled fans behind us were all under cover.
Audio Match Commentary
I emailed the DLO Peter Whiteley using the email given on LPF’s website 5 days before the match. As two days later I had heard nothing and fearing the address might no longer be up to date, I searched Chesterfield’s website for an alternative address and eventually found a generic DLO email which gave me an auto response. A further two days on and the day before the match, having heard nothing more, I phoned Chesterfield and was able to speak to Pete Whiteley the DLO, who told me he had been trying to repair their old receivers all week and was just off to buy new batteries for them and would email me later to let me know if they were working. He did and good to his word he delivered the headset to us in the stadium prior to the game. My husband said, that whilst the commentary was not audio described, he found it helpful and fair, particularly helpful given all the interruptions to seeing the match that I have already detailed,Accessible Toilet
Whilst we were effectively “round the corner” in the adjacent stand from our last visit, we were allowed through to use the same accessible toilets as previously. When I initially went just after the ground opened, I was informed that the right hand toilet was out of use as it was blocked and as I was refusing to use the left one as the toilet seat was covered in urine, I told the stewards that as I had not been to the toilet for 4 hours (had been unable to use the changing places toilet in the café on the outside of the stadium as I had found the seat there was also covered in urine) they needed to sort it quickly. The steward initially told me she was not paid to clean toilets which I agreed with her but I reiterated it needed to be cleaned quickly. As it was after some headset discussion, it was the steward who got the job of cleaning the toilet. Non-disabled women don’t experience toilet seats that men have peed all over and not cleaned after themselves as they have gender specific toilets but disabled women don’t get this luxury. Apart from this issue and the heavy doors there was hot water, hand wash and paper towels.Catering
The café we enjoyed on our last visit on the outside of the stadium was still open and serving good food (the large slice of brownie was scrum!). £8.50 for 2 coffees and the brownie. The path to the changing places toilet in this café was obscured by various trolleys and I have already detailed the state of the toilet.Club Officials
Nothing more to add to what I have already detailed.Leaving the Stadium
The away coaches were parked at the away end and easy to get to at the end of the match. Traffic was busy around the stadium but no real hold ups getting out.Overall
Denied the raised platform I had previously benefitted from and being subjected to dirty toilets resulted in a disappointing visit for me as an away wheelchair fan. Hopefully any future visit will not be as problematic, I just want to enjoy the match without hassle. -
Mark Phillips,1 year ago
Response from Chesterfield DLO:
Even though the match was one where extra stewards were deployed this should have been done in a way that didn’t affect the view and experience of any supporters. I realise this became a particular issue for wheelchair users who in this section were at pitch-level. I apologise for anyone whose matchday experience was affected and we are looking to learn lessons from what happened.
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Sarah Hodgson, who attended Chesterfield v Grimsby 07.09.20241 year ago
Although the disability facilities were good, the stewarding in the away section was certainly not up to standard.
Stewards were standing in front of the disability supporters which meant for periods of the game, play was missed as they could not see the other end of the pitch – complaints were dismissed and were told it’s policy. Found the stewards to be very unhelpful – it’s unlikely I will return.
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Sheffield United Disabled Supporters Club (SUDS), who attended Chesterfield v Sheffield United October 4th 201411 years ago
We have been to this stadium on 2 previous occasions but this time there were 8 wheelchairs and carers and the stand above us was a complete sell out. There is a lift to the viewing platform and this is exceptionally slow. The carer seats are behind the wheelchair users and therefore the carers cannot see. There was nowhere for the carers to move to either. When all 8 spaces are full, the person nearest to the lift has to move to allow the gate to be opened. As the lift is very slow, those who wanted to use the loos at half time had to start going out early or not all would have been able to get out and back in time for the second half. The stewards were not Chesterfield stewards as Sheffield United took their own so they did know us and were helpful unlike the last time when the lift broke and we had to carry all the disabled from off the platform without any help from the Chesterfield stewards. It is a very cold spot on a corner and if raining you would get very wet. Go prepared. An accessible parking space is £6 per car and needs to be booked in advance with Chesterfield ticket office but you pay on arrival.
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J and J , who attended Chesterfield v MK Dons 19/08/1411 years ago
Our second visit to the Proact Stadium as visiting away fans. We wrote a detailed review (below) after our last visit in 2012 so this is just an update to that.
Chesterfield FC Community Trust Café
This is at the rear of the stadium, part of the stadium building but with its own entrance from the car park. We were drawn to it by seeing tables and chairs outside it when we arrived early for an evening match. Pleasant staff welcomed away supporters. Flat entrance with low counters. Coffee/tea £1.95, small cold drinks £1.20. Snack menu available including bacon sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes etc. Coffee was good. We didn’t sample the food but what came out looked good. About 5 tables inside with TV. Accessible and Changing Places toilet (excellent). I also understand there was play provision for children. All spotless. Excellent find, would fully recommend. Closed at the end of the evening match.
Match Commentary for Visually Impaired Fans
As advised on Chesterfield’s website we rang the club prior to the game to reserve a headset and were advised that we would need a debit/charge card which would be debited with £50 if the headset was not returned at the end of the game. When my husband collected his headset from the Club’s main reception he was asked instead for a £20 cash returnable deposit and told this was preferred to a card. The initial headset was not working, so by the time a steward had changed it for a working set the first 15 minutes of the game had gone. My husband’s verdict on the commentary was that the commentator was helpful and fair, the problem was with the summariser. During the game two of our players were injured, one being stretched off, on both occasions the summariser suggested that the injuries were being feigned. On a further two occasions, the commentator had to ask the summariser to apologise for something he had said. We will be informing Chesterfield about this as although my husband is grateful for a commentary to help him follow the ball, this is not what he expects to hear.
Seating Arrangements
As described in our last review. My only observation is that as they fill up the away stand from the opposite end to where the wheelchair users are, if there is a small away crowd, you can seem a bit cut off from the other away fans. I got 3G with no problem. The only Scoreboard and clock is above the away stand where away fans can’t see it.
Accessible Toilets in the Stadium
Since my last visit a sign has appeared explaining the tap turns on when you move your hands in front of it. As with my last visit I was periodically plunged into darkness whilst in the loo and had to keep waving my arms to have light restored. All spotless.
Would We Return?
Yes, without doubt. Overall, one of the best grounds to visit.
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Jeff Deardon, who attended England u19 v Germany u1912 years ago
As a Sheffield United fan I am pretty used to good facilities for us disabled at Bramall Lane, but these were exceptional. WELL DONE CHEZZY
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J and J, who attended Visited as Away Fans on 17/03/1213 years ago
External Provision Newly built large “campus” style stadium all on the flat next to major supermarket and other similar outlets including eaterys and pubs. All stewards were helpful and knowledgeable.
Car parking on site at away wheelchair entrance where there was a booth to pick up the wheelchair users reserved tickets. Provision for Visually Impaired Fans- my husband isvisually impaired we had to walk round to the reception area at the front of the stadium and in doing so came across our players arriving, so that was good.
Our tickets were waiting for us with the headset as we had been told. I had not been told, however, as they said I had, that they required a credit card number (thankfully had a card with us) as security which they would debit with £50 if the headset was not returned to them at the end of the match. We had not come across this before. It did mean at the end we had to go against the crowd to get it back rather than simply hand it to a steward as we normally do. Thankfully it was still light and not raining at the end of the match as otherwise this journey could have been a little trying. My husband said it was the worst quality commentary he had ever heard from the many he has experienced. Commentary was a general one and not designed for visually impaired fans. It did not tell him where the ball was on the park and the direction of play on an ongoing basis as you rely on if you are not able to see. He also said it was extremely biased commentary in favour of the home side. Our home club Scorer Sight commentators see the inclusion of away fans as part of their remit. Grateful of a commentary as not available at that many League onegrounds to away fans but when it is available, it does need to give the listener the “picture”.
Provision in the Stadium Once in the stadium you went through a covered area where refreshments were being sold and a little way along the front side of the away stand to a wheelchair lift set in the away stand (goal end) to a raised platform. Excellent view from the covered platform although as we had 6 wheelchair users with carers we were a bit cramped with some carers having to go on the row behind. (There was also provision for away wheelchair users at pitch level in front of the raised platform, but as the platform gives such wonderful viewing, no one wanted to stay at pitch level!) The only down side of the raised platform was the person nearest the lift was disturbed if people wanted to go to the loo during the game as the lift is relatively slow but as it was excellent overall, would not want this to be a criticism.
Accessible Toilets Thought these deserved a specific mention. Two toilets located off a covered area in the end of the away stand, just round the corner from the wheelchair places. Door into the covered area was very heavy to open. Toilets were spotlessly clean with hot water and paper towels. A warmish March day but very cold in the toilets (colder than outside).Two experiences of using these loos worth noting. The cutout on the lighting is very keen. I was plunged into darkness 3 times (I didn’t think I spent too long there!. If this happens, wave and you get light again. I never quite worked out how you turn the tap on. As it wouldn’t turn or push or pull, I resorted to some gentle tapping around it and somehow water came, I am still not sure how. Tap turned off automatically.
Overall Apart from quality of headset commentary for visually impaired fans, excellent facilities for disabled fans at a beautiful new stadium. An example to many as to how it should work. Well done Chesterfield staff. We would not hesitate to visit again.
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Gary Deards, who attended Chesterfield v Lincoln 03/03/201114 years ago
This is an excellent stadium with fantastic views for wheelchair users and everyone else. 56 elevated positions at the back of the two main stands and another 16 elevated by about 1m in stands behind goals (including separate home and away sections). Pitchside locations also available for those who prefer it.
Radio commentary available in any seat via portable headset units.
Plenty of accessible toilets and catering units etc.
A great example of what can be achieved in an inclusive design.
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