Salford City

I am a powerchair user and my husband is a white cane user. This was our first visit to the Peninsula Stadium travelling in an accessible bus that is our Club’s official away transport. We are very aware that this is Salford’s first review on their LPF’s page. Now they need some of their home fans to also review the Stadium!

Arrival and Entry to the Ground
The route from the motorway to the ground is through residential areas. After we turned into Moor Lane, the front of the Stadium came into view on our left, half hidden behind pampus grasses! The coach dropped off near to a flight of stairs that lead to the away entrance which consisted of two turnstiles and a gate through which we entered. The pavement on Moor Lane was too narrow for the ramp on the coach to drop and me to turn my chair off it. So the coach had to move further down and get the ramp lined up with the beginning of the ramped entrance to the ground further down Moor Lane, that then brought us back to the bottom of the steps and the away entrance. Once beyond the gates there is then quite a steep hill down into an open area behind the away standing area.

Blue Badge Parking
There is no parking at the Stadium and all the streets around the stadium are reserved for residents’ permit holders only. I have read that Blue Badge holders can park on Moor Lane for 3 hours if they display their Blue Badge and time clock but I have heard of some Blue Badge holders receiving tickets for parking there (perhaps no clock displayed) so probably worth checking before parking.

Seating Area
The entrance to the stands for away fans is through a large opening on the right as you approach. The away standing area is to the left behind the goal and the away seating area is at right angles. It seems that both stands date from only 2016 so we were at a loss as to why there is no provision for wheelchair users in either of the away stands (the usual excuse that it is an old stadium is clearly not relevant here). It was not easy to establish this prior to our visit but I read enough to suspect that as an away wheelchair fan I would be seated in the home end which was confirmed when I entered the away end. When I said I was not happy with this and wanted to sit with my own fans I was offered a seat on the front row (up one step) which I declined (but was a suitable option for another wheelchair user). I was then told they were calling the Safety Officer (I think it was) to discuss options with me. He quickly came and when I explained that I did not want to sit in the adjoining home stand as if I was non-disabled and sat there as an away fan I would be evicted, he agreed with me and suggested that I could sit in a small recessed area at the beginning of the seated away stand, although his concern was that my view would be impeded by the double rails on top of the perimeter fence around the pitch. Once I assured him that with my seat raiser this would not be a problem, he said he was happy for me to watch the match from there with my husband stood next to me (which he has also happy to do). We did initially have a steward in our way but she did move onto the steps at our request, so we had a good view slightly diagonally across the pitch, which improved a lot once the winter setting sun disappeared.

Audio Match Commentary
Not available.

Accessible Toilet
The toilets were in huts in the open area behind the stand, furthest away from where you entered the away end. When I initially asked if there was an accessible toilet for me to use, it took 4 stewards before we found one that knew! Delighted to hear there was one at the away end. Radar locked (make sure you have your key as I was uncertain if the stewards would easily find one). Huge space but with one unbelievable problem, it had a step into it, so it really was a disabled toilet. When I pointed this out to a steward, the first response I got was, “don’t worry we will lift you” – no! They clearly had no idea of the implications of the weight of a 6-wheel powerchair. As fellow fans went on a hunt for a pallet to make a ramp for me, a more senior member of staff (in a black jacket) arrived with two boards in his hand and proceeded to arrange these at the door to form a ramp that was sufficient to get me in and out. Toilet was clean and there was hot water, hand soap and paper towels but who would think it was ok to have a step into the accessible loo? It was one of those annoying threshold steps that powerchairs don’t like as it has ridges that your wheels hit. Come on Salford! That said, I must add there was universal criticism of the poor state of all the toilets at the away end. The gents were partly on view to all and the ladies we were told were dirty.

Catering
This was much better. Two cabins on the left as you entered the away end. First was refreshments, second was the bar. Good range of food and reasonably priced. Chips £2.50, hot drinks £2.50 and some very reasonable meal deals. As a consequence, never seen so many people eating chips! Reports I got were that service was quick. There were two gazebos in this area to provide cover if it was raining. Smoking was allowed in this area.

Stewards
The young stewards seemed to have little knowledge, the more senior Club staff that we dealt with were helpful, resourceful and flexible as I have detailed.

Leaving the Stadium
No problems. We waited at the top of the ramp where we had been dropped off and after picking everyone else up, the coach moved up and collected us. No traffic queues leaving the area.

Overall
Grateful for the flexibility shown by Club staff in allowing me to sit where I did and in making an improvised ramp for the loo, just a shame that this was necessary when a bit of pre-thought could have we believe avoided both these issues which travelling disabled fans should not be experiencing in 2023 at any grounds. Hopefully now they have had this brought to their attention they can sort.