A RECENT visit to the Riverside Stadium with my son and daughter for the game against Manchester City gave me the opportunity to try out facilities for fans with disabilities.

Fortunately, I was able to meet Paddy Cronesbury, chairman of Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters' Association beforehand to pick his brains about how to get the best out of the trip.

Paddy knows all about the bad old days of supporting Boro... in the great outdoors of Ayresome. He recalls: "At Ayresome, we would sit in the corner below the Boys' End exposed to everything the weather could throw at us." Shocking though this was, positive developments followed which led to modest improvements. What changed things for the better at the Boro was the opening up of dialogue between Paddy, those supporters who regularly experienced such conditions and the club itself.

"We first asked for seating for our helpers," recalled Paddy who arrived one day to find benches had been installed for that very purpose. "Then we managed to negotiate with the club to install roofing over our touchline seating area." It all sounds very basic when looking from the vantage point of the new post-Taylor Report stadiums, but it was this interaction between club and supporter that led, eventually, to the formation of the supporters' association. Latterly, such groups around the country have combined their voices for added, national, impact. I discussed two with Paddy, the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS), and The Association of Wheelchair and Ambulant Disabled Supporters (AWADS). He showed me a guide produced by NADS which has useful access information for most clubs around the country. The AWADS website includes a forum for feedback from fans with disabilities on their experiences of different grounds.

Originally, our plan was to see the Liverpool game but, ringing the ticket office just four days before the game was not sufficient time to reserve both a parking space and seats together for the family. The City game however, two weeks hence, was fine. We could choose to sit elevated in the West/South stand corner or the front row of the East Stand. Choosing the latter - because my children hate lifts - we paid £37 for three seats and a parking pass being, effectively, three concessions: one disabled, one helper and one child.

Approaching the ground along Sheperdson Way, we were soon outside the ground where stewards abounded and it was easy to stop and ask directions for our destination; car park C. It was important to emphasise to each steward that we required a disabled bay, otherwise we would have had a longer walk than absolutely necessary from the nether regions of the car park. On leaving the car, we found each steward we met most helpful in directing us to the entrance I could use. Because of a requirement that the children should use the turnstile, I had a steward to assist me while the children were supervised until we met up on the other side.

Once inside, it's like Stockton market in the concourse and easy to get confused. The first priority was to locate yet another steward - we would have been lost without them - to show us the accessible way to the front of the stand. A sign to this end would be an improvement. It is obviously busy on matchdays and progress by wheelchair is slow in such crowds so it's wise to be in your seat around half an hour before kick off. We were escorted to our seats leaving no room for error. The seating arrangement is such that you can remain in a wheelchair (as the gentleman next to did) or transfer to a seat which I chose. Wheelchairs can be folded up and left nearby.

Our touchline view of the game was fine but many would prefer to be higher up in the rear corner of the South and West stands where there is a dedicated area for disabled fans. Fans in the elevated seats have the option of a trolley service where refreshments can be ordered theatre-style before the game.

What these fans do not have, however, is the side-by-side seating arrangement that we had; in the upper tier the helper sits in front of the person in a wheelchair. For pitchside fans, refreshments are found in the main concourse and disabled toilets are close to the seating area.

Overall, we had a hassle-free and dignified time. Never did I feel that I had a disabled service; I was just one of the crowd and grateful for that. Thanks Boro and thanks Paddy.

FACT FILE:

Supporter's Associations: Paddy Cronesberry, Middlesbrough Disabled Supporters' Association. Tel: (01642) 641620

National Association of Disabled Supporters website at www.nads.org.uk

Association of Wheelcahir and Ambulant Disabled Supporters website at www.awads.co.uk

Middlesbrough FC Ticket Office: Simon McDonald, Middlesbrough FC, Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, TS3 6RS Tel: (01642) 877745 Web:www.mfc.co.uk