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Northern Ireland Disabled Facilities

13 October 2010

When in Northern Ireland for some meetings I tried to visit as many Carling Premier League grounds as possible to get a flavour of the facilities currently in place. A lot of investment has been made in the grounds by UEFA and Sport for Ireland in terms of new floodlighting, new stands and artificial grass surfaces and in many cases this has meant improved disabled facilties

What also struck me was the friendliness of the people I met at various clubs and their willingness to improve disabled facilities. They have tried very hard to make improvements in what are in the main old, inner city football grounds.

Here is a brief summary of my visits including pictures to give you a idea of the current set ups.
First stop was Shamrock Park the home of Portadown F.C. Ronnie Thompson (Health & Safety Office) was very helpful and showed me round their two new stands.

Parking and access is very close to the stadium and wheelchair areas have been provided in both news stands.

Ambulant seating is available and is clearly marked see the blue seats and large white labels in in the pictures.

Portadown's local rivals Glenavon F.C. was the next stop where the team officials at Mourneview Park were happy to let me look around.The two stands which run the length of the pitch both have wheelchair facilities.

In the picture you will see the wheelchair area in the home stand and in the distance the stand behind the goals is currently being converted from terracing to seating and will include a new modern wheelchair area.

 

The following day I managed to whisk round all five Carling Premier League clubs based in Belfast. Crusader F.C. play at Seaview in Belfast and it took me back in time when I saw their covered terracing area.

I was made very welcome by Joe Moore the stadium manager who explained that the newest stand had not long been fitted out underneath with new changing rooms and technical areas.

On the other side of the pitch the unused concrete home dug out was now popular with wheelchair users from both home and away supports (ignore material in dug out this was training equipment for the day).Crusaders hope to build two new stands soon behind each goal one of which will include a new modern wheelchair area.

 

Donegal Celtic have just been promoted to the Premier League and unfortunately their spruce,modern ground was closed. However from the accessible parking which was very close by and the disabled entrance, I could see they had provision for quite a large wheelchair area.

Next port of call was Glentoran F.C. who have the largest however perhaps oldest facilities outwith Windsor Park.

Parking is in the stadium confines (ignore material in parking spaces this was Sky equipment about to be taken away) and an enclosed wheelchair area is close by.

 

Then I visited Windsor Park the home of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland international team. The stadium was a hive of activity with work being carried out in time for the visit of Italy in a week or so time.Accessible parking is next to the stadium and clearly signposted.

The famous Railway End Stand with its "Belfast Roof" has been demolished since I was last there to be replaced by modern seating.

The current wheelchair area in the main stand is being temporarily replaced for the Italy game by a new high rise platform situated in front of the existing area to be nearer the pitch and increase availability.

There is also a wheelchair area in the newer stand behind the goals.

 

Final stop was the Solitude home of Cliftonville F.C.Behind one goal a brand new stand has been erected which also houses the changing rooms,offices and meeting rooms. Access for wheelchairs is through the main door before going up in the lift to a foyer and in the picture you can see the lift door to the right, entrance to the toilet in the middle and the entrance to viewing area to he far left.

In the next picture you will see the viewing area and in the distance an overflow wheelchair area.

There is an unobstructed view from the wheelchair viewing area in this stand. Thanks to all the clubs for being so friendly and helpful during my brief visits.


 

Keith Ferguson

UK & Eire Development Officer