Euro 2016 - Round of 16
3
3
Date of visit: June 2016
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Average
Being a football fan as well as a Sheffield United fan I want to travel to any football match to enjoy football! Next on the list was the Euro 2016 match between Wales and Northern Ireland. I am unfortunately confined to a wheelchair football grounds can sometimes seem daunting experiences: where is the accessible parking, where are the seats, are they accessible, where are there disabled toilets etc.? Watching football fills people with joy and with an understanding of the problems you might encounter, I want to share my experiences of football grounds with you so you can feel a bit more confident about stadium accessibility in the future.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
It is an old stadium where the turnstyles have a step but there is an entrance with a newly built ramp for disabled supporters on both sides of the ground. Once you are in the stadium there is a lift up to the disabled seating halfway up the stadium. At this level you are sheltered from any changeable weather and there view of the pitch is great.
Parking & Transport
Average
I cannot properly comment on the parking as we did not take our vehicle to the stadium.
Accessible Toilets
Poor
There was a very small number of disabled toilets, which were mostly used as smoking facilities for supporters. They were quite small and poorly arranged, meaning they were not updated to a standard you would expect of an iconic football ground.
Staff
Poor
The police and stewards did not help us get through the lines of security for the football tournament, which would have avoided having to struggle through people pushing to the front. I can't imagine it being that difficult if you are to watch a Paris Saint Germain game there. Once we had got through we appeared very disorientated but more useful stewards recognised this and were quickly redirected. A mixed day with the staff on duty.
Additional Information
There was a very friendly atmosphere between Welsh and Northern Irish supporters, however the game was tense, resulting in a 1-0 win for Wales. It was an amazing experience to watch the Euro 2016 Round of 16 in France but the ground is outdated and not ideal for accessibility, yet it is much more manageable than some footballing venues. By no means take it off your football ground wish list. Au revoir!
