SOUTHEND UNITED FC
Guest
“The Club has not had reason recently to become involved in the message board but the messages over the last few days concerning disabled supporters have prompted the Club to make the following known.
During last season demand from the disabled for seats in the ground was at an all time high and many supporters were refused tickets simply because of lack of availability. As in the last three seasons neither the disabled supporter or their carer were charged provided that they could show evidence that they were receiving under the DLA regulations a medium level of care.
When season tickets were released for sale for the 2006 – 2007 season the Club took advice from the Disabled Supporters Association and considered the recommendations from the FA in its guide publication to The Disability Discrimination Act both of which recommended that to avoid a possible charge of discrimination that the Club charged disabled supporters and that their carers should be admitted at no charge. It was also recommended that the Club review its criteria with regard to who should qualify as disabled. It was decided that supporters would for the new season be required to show that they were in receipt of the higher level of care as defined by the DLA regulations.
The Club has for sale a maximum of 20 wheelchair spaces which have 20 carers seats attached to them, 7 seats for the visually impaired and 30 seats for supporters with ambulatory difficulties. Of these 75% were set aside for season ticket holders and all have been sold at the concessionary rate. Where a supporter demonstrated that they could not afford the payment for the season ticket in one amount it was agreed that they could pay over a period to meet their particular circumstances. The remaining 25% are available for match day sales subject to the same criteria.
It was hoped that by complying with legislation in this way and only selling a proportion of available seats by way of season tickets that we would have met a large number of requirements of disabled supporters, both season ticket holders and casual supporters. A small number of initial complaints were received all of which were either resolved or the supporter understood the Club’s position and paid the full rate.
Clearly there is a large variety of disabilities and the Club cannot possibly hope to cater for all types but supporters should know that we have sought further advice to see if a different set of criteria could be applied which might produce a different balance. Until such time as this advice is received the current criteria will remain.”
Moley
During last season demand from the disabled for seats in the ground was at an all time high and many supporters were refused tickets simply because of lack of availability. As in the last three seasons neither the disabled supporter or their carer were charged provided that they could show evidence that they were receiving under the DLA regulations a medium level of care.
When season tickets were released for sale for the 2006 – 2007 season the Club took advice from the Disabled Supporters Association and considered the recommendations from the FA in its guide publication to The Disability Discrimination Act both of which recommended that to avoid a possible charge of discrimination that the Club charged disabled supporters and that their carers should be admitted at no charge. It was also recommended that the Club review its criteria with regard to who should qualify as disabled. It was decided that supporters would for the new season be required to show that they were in receipt of the higher level of care as defined by the DLA regulations.
The Club has for sale a maximum of 20 wheelchair spaces which have 20 carers seats attached to them, 7 seats for the visually impaired and 30 seats for supporters with ambulatory difficulties. Of these 75% were set aside for season ticket holders and all have been sold at the concessionary rate. Where a supporter demonstrated that they could not afford the payment for the season ticket in one amount it was agreed that they could pay over a period to meet their particular circumstances. The remaining 25% are available for match day sales subject to the same criteria.
It was hoped that by complying with legislation in this way and only selling a proportion of available seats by way of season tickets that we would have met a large number of requirements of disabled supporters, both season ticket holders and casual supporters. A small number of initial complaints were received all of which were either resolved or the supporter understood the Club’s position and paid the full rate.
Clearly there is a large variety of disabilities and the Club cannot possibly hope to cater for all types but supporters should know that we have sought further advice to see if a different set of criteria could be applied which might produce a different balance. Until such time as this advice is received the current criteria will remain.”
Moley
