I, like many other sports journalism students was given the opportunity to attend a Saints Women’s match yesterday in the press box at St Mary’s.
However as the courses resident wheelchair user, I knew my experience would be somewhat altered from the norm.
This is the sad and sorry case of how things played out.
I arrived an hour and a half before, well aware of my specific access arrangements which I had assumed would cause trouble, I assumed correct.
We (me and a fellow student who acted as my carer) were immediately informed that our names were not on the list and they did not have our passes. A good start and sadly a sign of things to come.
After being told to step (wheel) aside, we waited. All the while seeing some of my fellow course mates and journalists enter without any issues.
We were then greeted by someone, who I intended to keep anonymous, whom after a longer wait decided to take us up to the press area.
We reached the press box stairs, we waved a course mate goodbye, and I was told there was somewhere different for me. Initially my colleague was told to go to the press box I insisted he was to remain with me and on reflection, I’m thankful I did.
It was quite clear at this point, despite being told beforehand, that they were not expecting neither had they prepared adequately for my arrival.
On the journey from the regular press area to where I would be sitting I was told that my designated area was ‘nicer’. Let me tell you, they have a very interesting definition of that word down at St Marys.
Once we had reached the door through which was my seat we were greeted by a kind yet unknowing steward.
This man asked me where I was sat, which was strange as he was marshalling an area for disabled fans and we were meant to be in the press area. Regardless I was unable to answer due to the lack of press pass.
At this point, his colleague, the man who had taken us from reception, said that this alteration should have been communicated, it was not.
Nevertheless we were in to an area which was, to put it plainly, not adequate. To make matters worse, we were put in seats that had already been taken. By the time these fans arrived, we were in their seats, and had to move to the other side of the seating area.
We were sat adjacent to the press area, in seats without a desk or adequate charging facilities. My companion on the day was tasked with writing a match report for this very website, but being surrounded by fans in regular disability seating, the conditions made it difficult for him to do so.
On what was meant to be a designated Saints Foundation match day, focused on the awareness of those less fortunate, my experience at St Mary’s was frankly disappointing, appalling and to many, including myself personally upsetting.
A sign we are a long way from equality for disabled journalists.
And a damming indebtment on one clubs and possibly English football’s state of inclusivity.
