Tottenham Hotspur

Jon & Shirley at the club we’re extremely helpful with information and support on the build up to the game. The Stewards we met were extremely helpful and nothing seemed too much. All feedback from other Disabled supporters seems to agree with this and made for a great trip for us all

I have been to White Hart Lane several times in the last 12 years and things have never really changed much in that time. The pitchside view isn’t the best but it also isn’t the worst I have encountered either. You do feel as though you are a bit below pitch level which makes seeing the far end and also the far side of the pitch a bit tricky at times. Stewards do walk up and down quite frequently during the game which is always a source of frustration whilst the game is on. But unlike some pitchside behind the goal views, there are no press photographers to block the view.

Your carer/PA sitting behind you and not next to you is something that I am never overly keen on as it’s hard to speak to them about them game etc without having to turn away from looking at the pitch and also I know others feel they are in danger of being hit by the ball as their carer/PA will be unable to stop the ball from hitting them as they aren’t sitting next to them.

My main criticisms with regards to White Hart Lane are 1) The disabled toilets – there are only two disabled toilets for both home and away supporters to use. At half time this means queuing up for most of the interval if not all of the break unless you leave before half time. The toilet are not very spacious either, some electric wheelchairs struggle with getting into either of the cubicles. 2) The coach drop off and pick up point – for the first time this season the coaches were not allowed to drop off outside the ground as they’ve always done, the walk to and from the drop off point is easily a 10 to 15 minute walk. I would not be able to manage this on my own through the crowd especially after the game, so will always need to attend this game with a carer/PA. Ambulant disabled supporters must find this walk quite difficult and tiring too. 3) There were only 4 wheelchair bays in use by Everton fans, EFC confirmed that this was the allocation too. This seems a low allocation compared to previous seasons and also disappointing when grounds with smaller capacities than White Hart Lane have given us bigger allocations this season.

The stewards that I spoke too were as helpful as always

I have been to White Hart Lane many times, the wheelchairs are located pitch level in front of the away supporters, some Tottenham disabled supporters are also sat here. The view isn’t too bad but it ishard to judge where the play is at the far end of the pitch, you aren’t sure if the ball is in the penalty area etc. It feels you are little bit below pitch level to be honest.The view is also blocked at times bysomeof the Tottenham stewards, who werewalking across our sightlinesespecially in the opening 10 minutes of the game, after half time and the last few minutes of the game, but also throughout the game. Every goalis always met with a line of stewards standing up in front of the away end directly in front of the wheelchair supporters, blocking thepitch entirely. They also do this at the full time whistle so can’t applaud the playersoff orsee them celebrating etc.

Carers are sat up a step behind the wheelchair user, it is a little bit difficult to be able to talk to your carer like thisand if the ball came at you I am not sure they would be able to help protect the disabled supporters from being hit.

To get to and from the disabled bays you go up a kind of slope, it isn’t very well designed, it is quite uneven and steeper than it looks, I couldn’t push up or down it and I am quite an able pusher of my wheelchair. A couple of years ago one the Everton wheelchair users actually tipped backwards trying to push himself up this slope, thankfully he wasn’t hurt and a steward helped him up the ramp after this. There are two disabled toilets for all the disabled fans in this area, both are locked and need a RADAR key which one of the stewards in this area had. I do find these toilets are a bit small, there isn’t much room to manuovere your wheelchair in the cublcles or the waiting area outside both cubicles and there is always fans waiting especially at half time and at the end of the game. There is a low level food counter by the entrance, my carer always goes to by food and drink from here as I can not manage to go by myself due to having to negotiate that slope.

For the last couple of season the away supporters coaches have been parked on West Road, which is about a 10-15 minute walk away from the stadium. I know some of the ambulant supporters who use the coach I travel on found this walk quite difficult and tiring, it took them much longer than 15 minutes to get back to the coach. As I went with my brother, he pushed me back to the coach, I am not sure I would have been able to get back to the coach in 15 minutes if I attend this game on my own.

I travelled to the game by coach from Forest ground. We were dropped off right outside the ground. However, at the end of the game there was an extremely long walk to find the coaches. As I was in a wheelchair this was not too difficult for me but others on the coach were ambulant disabled and this proved a great difficulty for them especially as we were instructed to be on time and therefore they felt even more pressured. The stewards were extremely helpful with regard to this and walked back with all the disabled supporters. The police offered transport but this meant leaving the game early which again seemed discriminatory.

I have to say however that the stewards were the best I have experienced at any away game and were extremely attentive.

Parking at Tottenham is not the best but the disabled steward is one of the nicest helpful people I have seen at a football ground.

Attended with Michael who is ambulent registered blind Everton supporter.

Easy access to the ground, met at the entrance and shown to our seat. Toilets and refreshment bar within segregated area which is a big bonus.

Car parking is a first come basis. 8 spaces in Plaxton road and 4 or 5 spaces in front of the West Stand. You need to get there early plus not allocating some to away supporters who may have travelled a fair way seems a bit harsh.

Laison Officer said she has taken it up with the club without success. The club decided not to change the policy. Having said that get there before the road closes, there did appear to be spaces not taken up.

Getting in to the ground was made easy by the police helping to clear the way so us in wheelchairs could do so without trouble, and the stewards were very helpful, and just before half time they came to al disabled and carers and offered hot drinks free of charge which was very welcomed on a very cold night, i think other clubs could follow suit, it went a long way in making my trip to liverpool fc very good indeed

We were made to wait at the main gate although our disabled supporters’ bus had gone in, together with its occupants, whom we were told had all had to get out (not so).

On our last visit we were let straight in. About ten stewards at the gate, who brought inefficiency to a new level and showed how not to run a car park! Eventually we were let in and found our seats without difficulty, having been before.

Someone had seen fit to sell tickets to Spurs supporters in between us and other Rovers disabled supporters which was a shame for us and them, as they didn’t want to talk to us but in any case we enjoyed the match. At the end of the match we were sent out through an unlit tunnel with a dodgy floor.

No problems outside the ground although if you want a programme be warned and have £3.50 ready, 50p more expensive than most grounds!